By Catherine Garrett | [email protected]

The Corner Canyon High boys tennis team were again among the top teams in the state after the 6A tennis tournament. This year, they tied for third with Farmington after play May 12 and 14 at Liberty Park.

“State was a heartbreaker,” said head coach Allison Rideout. “We had incredibly difficult draws due to the system change of seeding. It really hurt us. The boys played amazing with what they were given, but at the end of the day it didn’t go our way.”

The Chargers had two lineup spots—at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles—make the finals before losing in tight matches.

Spencer Willes defeated West Jordan’s Jefferson Larson in the preliminaries to reach the round of 16 where he beat Layton’s Baden Record 6-4, 6-2, then Farmington’s Marcin Rucinski 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinals and Weber’s Gabriel Olsen 6-2, 6-0 before the championship. In the finals, he lost to American Fork’s Antoni Ramon 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4).

“Spencer played some of his best tennis. We were all really proud of him,” Rideout said. “He was also an incredible captain and leader this year.”

Brothers Cole Jenkins and Charlie Jenkins also advanced to the championships against Lone Peak’s Nathan Ashton/Abram Robbins where they lost 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3). The duo’s road to the finals included wins over Fremont’s Luke Norris/Ethan Inglsbe in prelims, Herriman’s Ethan Phelps/Ashton Phelps 6-2, 6-1 in the round of 16, Syracuse’s Mitchell Lindhardt/Jay Taggart 6-4, 6-0 in the quarters and Farmington’s Spencer Ostermiller/Nathaniel Bullard 6-2, 6-2 in the semis.

“That was some of the best doubles they have played,” Rideout said. “Charlie dug out so many points and kept them in it and Cole played basically one-handed because of an injury he sustained at region. He was incredible at the net.”

Beau Welker, at No. 2 singles, lost in the semifinals to Farmington’s Justin Steed 7-5, 6-4 after wins over Pleasant Grove’s Austin Barker 6-3, 6-1 and Lone Peak’s Davis Schulthies 6-1, 6-4.

No. 1 singles player Aidan Rideout, who won state last season at No. 2 singles, lost to eventual champion Caden Hasley, of American Fork, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarterfinals following victories against West Jordan’s Matthew Thompson in the prelims and Granger’s Simeon Thomas 6-0, 6-0.

Tyler Burraston and Jaxson Roberts, who teamed up at No. 2 doubles, defeated Syracuse’s Ty Richardson/Rhett Kelley in the prelims before losing to Lone Peak’s Lucas Jackson/Simon Bliss 6-4, 7-6 (5) in the round of 16.

Also on the CCHS team this season were Hudson Bradley, Jaden Buchmiller, Braden Covington, Andre Didier, Matt Dorny, Davis Hammond, Julian Hayman, Carter Hoffman, Slade Jeppsen, Nate Kennedy, Phineas Mayer, John Norton, Thomas Ord, Jason Sharp, Connor Snow, Austin Squire, Josh Townsend, Cooper White, Nick White and Ethan Woodward.

Coach Rideout was assisted on the coaching staff by Adrien Jenkins, Megan Dorny, Lance Squire and Benji Rideout along with manager Tayvee Ash.