Corner Canyon boys tennis enjoy winning ways
May 08, 2023 09:17AM ● By Catherine Garrett
The Corner Canyon High boys tennis team, who tied for third at the 6A state tournament a year ago, is undefeated in match play so far this season. (Photo courtesy Jon Clifford, All-Star Photography)
The Corner Canyon High boys tennis team has finished in the top three at state the past two seasons and now junior Alex Fuchs has joined the program and will play in the top singles spot for the Chargers.
“Alex is an incredible tennis player and a huge asset to our team,” said head coach Allison Rideout. “He will play No. 1 for us and we are thrilled to have him.”
Seniors Nate Kennedy, Jaxson Roberts, Jason Sharp and Josh Townsend along with juniors Aidan Rideout and Beau Welker bring plenty of varsity experience to a squad aiming for it all this season.
“Our goal this year is to take state, and we are going to work as hard as we can to reach that goal,” Allison Rideout said. “Why not shoot for the stars? We are going for it. We have a goal in mind and we are going for it. Everyone needs to show up, everyone needs to work their hardest, everyone needs to believe we can and when that happens we can take it.”
So far this spring—amidst several cancellations with the weather—Corner Canyon has been rolling through opponents and are currently undefeated through eight matches.
Against Alta March 13, Jenkins and junior Ethan Woodward won their matches at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively while Roberts/Townsend and Kennedy/Sharp also picked up wins at the doubles spots to lead the team to a 4-1 win. The Chargers swept Logan, Mountain Ridge, Skyline, Pleasant Grove and Westlake 5-0 with straight-set wins in every match. Against Skyridge March 30, Fuchs—at No. 1 singles—and doubles pairs Welker/Roberts and Townsend/Kennedy pulled out three-set wins while Rideout and Jenkins, playing at No. 2 and No. 3 singles, respectively, lost just one game each in their matches to lead Corner Canyon to a 5-0 win. They have also defeated American Fork 3-2 March 17 and American Fork April 13, Lone Peak 4-1 April 18 and Pleasant Grove 5-0 April 20.
“We always change the lineup a lot, but we have had to a great deal because Alex and Aidan are still trying to continue their training in California also,” said Allison Rideout. “The boys are playing well and working hard.”
Also on the CCHS squad are seniors Braden Covington, Andrew Engh, Davis Hammond, Austin Shipp and Sam Springer; juniors Blake Burraston, Sam Petersen and Cooper White; sophomores Brayden Belote, Jaden Buchmiller, Tennison Erickson, Boone Hammond and Brek Johnson; and freshmen Beau Edmunds, Dillon Roberts, Cameron White, Camden Wilcox and Zach Woodward.
Allison’s husband, Jensen, has joined the coaching staff this season. “We’re very excited to have Jensen join our coaching staff,” Allison Rideout said. “It is really a family affair now with my husband and I and my oldest son. He is a great coach and has already helped our boys so much.”
They are assisted on the coaching staff by Adrien Jenkins, Benji Rideout and Mykel Seeborg and managers Afton Milne and Tayvee Ash.
Corner Canyon is also scheduled to face Lone Peak, Pleasant Grove, Skyridge and Westlake and play in the Ashton Invitational before the region tournaments May 3-6 and the 6A state tournament May 18, 20 at Liberty Park. λ