Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
“We won every close match we were in,” said Flyers’ coach Eric Christensen as he coached his team during the state Class 3A tournament at Tonaquint Park on Saturday. “Of 35 matches, we were 30-5.”
Saturday, it appeared the Flyers might have gotten their mojo back when Taylor Bottema and Danny Bethers trailed Grantsville’s Andrew Dalton and Parker Wyatt 4-1 in the second set of their semifinal match at second doubles after winning the first set. They came back to win and took the first set of their finals match with Brennen French and Jack Lecher of Park City, but then lost 6-2, 6-3 to finish second.
“Region was really even this year,” Christensen said. “I don’t think people expected us to win region.”
But the Flyers did and had an outside shot at the state title before settling for fourth with nine points. Juan Diego won the championship while Park City was second and Grantsville third. “Nine is the most points we’ve had since we tied Desert Hills for second five years ago.
“I’m pleasantly surprised,” said Christensen, whose team consisted of two seniors, three juniors and two sophomores.
Juan Diego captured the team crown by winning at second singles with Connor Kempin, third singles with Ben Argilius and by garnering points in first singles (finalist) and first doubles (semifinalists).
Bear River’s Brennen Rigby captured the first singles title when Juan Diego’s Ryan Kempin withdrew in the second set with an injury.
Dixie's Carsen Bottema, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Juan Diego's Ryan Kempin, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Juan Diego's Ryan Kempin, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Bear River's Steffen Rigby, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Bear River's Steffen Rigby, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Bear River's Steffen Rigby, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Bear River's Steffen Rigby, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills' Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tanner Beckstrom, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tanner Beckstrom, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tanner Beckstrom, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Juan Diego's Connor Kempin, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Juan Diego's Connor Kempin, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Tanner Beckstrom, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Carsen Bottema, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Dixie's Carsen Bottema, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Grantsville's Matt Waldron, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Grantsville's Matt Waldron, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Park City's Connor Burke, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Canyon View's Job Huxford, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Canyon View's Job Huxford, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Canyon View's Job Huxford, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Canyon View's Job Huxford, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills Head Coach Dow Christenson discusses strategy with Austin Hardy, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon's Matt Morgan, 3A State Tennis Championships, Boys Tennis, May 14, 2016, | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
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