Pappas named player of year

Boulder City High School tennis standout Andre Pappas was named 3A Sunrise League player of the year following his fourth-place finish during the 3A individual state championship.

“I was very surprised when I found out I was named player of the year,” Pappas said. “It was very unexpected, honestly, but I’m am glad to have received this award. It means a lot to be recognized.”

Meeting each goal he set for himself during his junior season with the Eagles, Pappas went 10-0 during the team’s undefeated regular season, while clinching state championship berths both as a team member and an individual player.

“Andre played incredible all season long,” Boulder City coach Rachelle Huxford said. “I know qualifying for state was his goal and he achieved it as the third seed from the south. For me, his greatest moment of the season was beating Nate Van der Post from The Meadows in the state team finals. Nate had beat him twice in their previous meetings. Andre just dug deep and won. I’m immensely proud of Andre’s focus and drive this year. He definitely deserved player of the year honors for our league.”

Pappas was one of 10 members from the Eagles’ 3A state championship runner-up team to receive All-League honors.

“I was very excited that my top 10 players received All-League honors,” Huxford said. “We had an incredible season. They all worked hard as a team and succeeded as a team and these awards just validate that.”

Pappas, along with freshman doubles partners Boen Huxford and Preston Jorgensen and freshman singles player Breton Erlanger, was named to the Southern Region first team.

Finishing as the 3A state champion runner-up in doubles during individual play, Huxford and Boen capped off a phenomenal freshman campaign that saw them go 10-0 during the regular season. Making it to the individual state championship as well as the Southern Region’s fifth seed, Erlanger compiled a 9-1 regular-season record.

Taking home Southern Region second-team honors for the Eagles were junior singles player Sam O’Berto, along with junior doubles competitors Garrett Leavitt, Tanner Montgomery and Clayton Pendleton.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the All-Region honors,” Rachelle Huxford said. “These players really stepped it up at regionals and during the state tournament. I was very pleased to have four players qualify for state and three players place at state in Reno. I know these awards mean a lot to the boys and I’m grateful to have been able to coach them this year.”

Concluding the Eagles’ postseason accolades, sophomore doubles competitor Karson Bailey was named to the All-Sunrise League first team, while freshman doubles competitor Ty Pendleton earned second-team All-Sunrise League honors.