By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

For the first time in program history, the Corner Canyon High boys tennis team qualified all five varsity positions for the state tournament and placed third as a team May 18 at Liberty Park.

“We had a really good season,” head coach Mykel Seeborg said. “It was a good run.”

“We proved ourselves as one of the top teams in the state, and it was a lot of fun being able to watch all of my teammates compete so well,” senior Max Roberts said. 

At No. 1 doubles, Roberts and senior Drew Osbourne went into the tournament as the top doubles team in the state and wanted to make sure they got past the first round where the duo stumbled last spring. This year, they defeated Highland’s Will Olsen/Isaac Brickely 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in the first round, Wasatch’s Trevor Bond/Carson Clark 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals and Olympus’ Sawyer Peterson/Oscar Smith 4-6, 6-4, 6-1 in the semis to play in the finals where they lost to Skyline’s Gunner Woller/Sam Stewart 6-1, 6-2.

“Me and Drew were able to prove that we are one of the best teams in the state,” Roberts said. “I am so thankful for the opportunity that I had to play with Drew for these last two years and am so happy for the way that we were able to end our senior seasons.”

In No. 3 singles, freshman Spencer Willes, who was the Region 7 champion, defeated Viewmont’s Isaak Getz 6-4, 6-1, Daniel Wilcox of Provo 6-3, 6-2 and Woods Cross’ Peter Richards 6-2, 6-2 before losing in the finals to Skyline’s Ethan Green 6-4, 6-1. 

“Reaching the finals was a great accomplishment for Trevor, Carson and Spencer,” Seeborg said.

Also competing at state were the No. 2 doubles team of freshman Charlie Jenkins and junior Tyler Easton — who were also Region 7 champions. They defeated Wasatch’s Benn Hilliam/Jared Bennion 6-3, 6-0, Highland’s Abraham Toronto/Will Dale 7-6, 6-3 in the first two rounds to match up with Olympus’ Milo Headden/Chuck Nadauld in the semifinals where they lost 6-4, 6-3.

Junior Jensen Rideout, at No. 1 singles, reached the second round by defeating Highland’s Jake Bauman 6-3, 6-0 before losing to Woods Cross’ Spencer Johnson 6-0, 6-1. Sophomore Tristan Buckner, playing at No. 2 singles, also made it to round 2 with a win over Skyridge’s Brock Golding 6-1, 6-4 and then losing in the quarterfinals to Woods Cross’ Holden Iverson 7-6, 6-2.

“Our success starts at the top and sets a precedent for our younger kids,” Seeborg said.

“In the end, we left it all on the court and we all played at a high level,” Buckner said. “I think we should be proud with our run, even if it wasn’t as long as it could have been.”

The Chargers finished second in Region 7, which is “about how we thought we would end up,” according to Seeborg. “I knew we were going to be a pretty strong team and right there in the mix,” he said.

“This tennis season was a great success,” Roberts said. “We had a very solid, young team with a lot of very good players. We all improved and learned so much throughout the season and were able to grow close as a team.”

Also on the 2019 Corner Canyon squad this season were Tyler Burraston, Brandon Cutler, Cooper England, Jacob Farnsworth, Gray Jackson, Patrick Holmes, Cameron McDonald, Bryce Nestman, Cody Shipman, Aiden Smith, Connor Snow, Dylan Squire and Nate Wineagar.

“We played out of our minds this year to beat Timpview who is an amazing team,” Buckner said. “Last year we were barely able to even compete with some of these teams; this year we were able to rival and even beat some of them. It was a great year for Charger tennis.”

“Our program is moving in that right direction and our players are getting experience,” Seeborg said. “Looking ahead to the future makes me excited for next season.”