The Corner Canyon High boys tennis team, who won the 2023 6A state title, finished in fifth place at this year’s tournament at Liberty Park May 16, 18.

The Chargers were led by No. 1 singles player, senior Beau Welker, who reached the semifinal round before losing to Farmington’s Charles Frey 6-3, 6-2. Also reaching the final four were the No. 1 doubles team of Blake Burraston/Boston Snow who lost to eventual winners Ashton Cahoon/Luke Miller of Lone Peak 6-2, 7-5.

“Except for Beau Welker, it was the first time competing at state for the rest of our team,” said head coach Allison Rideout. “We were really pleased with how our boys played. They played really well and handled the pressure like champions. The pressure at state is heavy and it often forces some upsets, which it did again this year as the highly favored Farmington High School did not win. Our boys played great and as coaches we were really proud to be Chargers.”

At state, Welker defeated Syracuse’s Camden Senninger 6-0, 6-0 at No. 1 singles in the second round after a first-round bye. In the quarterfinal round, he pulled out a three-setter against Lone Peak’s Davis Schulties 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 to reach the semis.

At No. 1 doubles, Burraston/Snow also had a bye in the first round before beating Copper Hills’ Jaron Hiller/Brigham Burton 6-1, 6-2 in the second round. The duo then advanced to the semifinals with a win over American Fork’s Bryson White/Justin Thorpe 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Also competing at state for Corner Canyon were senior Ethan Woodward at No. 2 singles, sophomore Dillon Roberts at No. 3 singles and freshman Luke Hale/sophomore Zach Woodward at No. 2 doubles, all of whom had first-round byes.

Ethan Woodward defeated Herriman’s Nathaniel Logan 6-1, 6-1 in Round 2 before losing in the quarterfinals to Weber’s Rafael Olsen 6-2, 6-3.

Roberts beat Herriman’s Bosten Ashby 7-5, 7-6 in the second round and then lost to American Fork’s Matthew Davis in the quarters.

Hale/Zachary Woodward defeated Davis’ Jeffrey Cook/Luke Edgington 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 in Round 2 before losing to Farmington’s Jacob Stone/Blake Geddes in the quarterfinals.

The Chargers won the Region 2 tournament April 29-30 at Corner Canyon High School behind first-place winners Ethan Woodward at No. 2 singles and Burraston/Snow at No. 1 doubles.

Also placing at region were Welker and Zach Woodward, who were runners up at No. 1 and No. 3 singles, respectively, and Hale/Roberts at No. 2 doubles who were third. λ