Tennis teams look to repeat at state
Continuing to roll through their season, Boulder City High School will be represented by 10 individual tennis stars at this weekend’s state tournament in Carson City.
Performing double duty next week, with the team tournament taking place as well, will be girls tennis stars Lyla Gunson, Chelsie Larson, Harmony Cook, Quinn Gibson, Abrina Soares and Audrey Humphrey, joined by boy stars Jake Richards, Miles Alder, Will Teeples and Nathan Law.
“I think it’s amazing that we were able to get 10 individual qualifiers for state,” head coach Rachelle Huxford said. “All season we preach team, team, team and it kind of takes away from the individual aspect a little bit. All of them went out there last week and played some of their best matches. A few walked away as regional champions. I’m very proud of them.”
Highlighting this group of exceptional athletes was the girls doubles team of Gunson and Larson and singles star Richards for the boys, who each finished as regional champions.
In an all-Eagles final for the girls’ doubles regional championship, Gunson and Larson defeated Cook and Gibson 6-4, 6-2.
It was the fourth straight regional tournament that an all-Eagles championship match took place for doubles.
“I think it’s also that they were able to keep the tradition alive,” Huxford said. “We’ve been blessed over the years with some really good doubles teams and it’s always fun to watch two of our teams battle it out for a championship.”
In the boys tournament, Richards defeated Adelson’s Ido Goren in the finals, completing the first of his lofty freshman season goals.
“Jake’s a really good player and he came into the season wanting to win a championship as a freshman,” Huxford said. “I’m very excited for him that he’s going to state and has a chance to accomplish that.”
Concluding the boys tournament, the duo of Alder and Teeples finished second, falling to Virgin Valley’s Justin Andrus and Logan Andrus, while Nathan Law won his third-place match against Pahrump’s Jace Eichner.
For the girls, Soares defeated Humphrey in an all-Eagles third-place singles match.
Opening round of the individual tournament will begin on Friday.
