Raymundo Frasquillo Photo/Gila Herald: Gene Huish eyes his forehand return against Florence. The Thatcher senior is paired up with sophomore Braden Huish for the state doubles meet at the Glendale Paseo Tennis Center on Friday, April 26. Thatcher ousted Florence 5-0 and hosts The Gregory School on Wednesday, May 1.
Individual tourneys begin in Glendale on Friday
By Raymundo Frasquillo
THATCHER – The Chris Cook-coached top-ranked Thatcher Eagles shutout the No. 16 Florence Gophers 5-0 on April 24. The Eagles advance to the quarterfinals against No. 8 Tucson’s The Gregory School in Thatcher on Wednesday, May 1.
In the other Section I state meet team qualifier, the Katie Jones-coached No. 15 Safford Bulldogs fell 0-5 to the No. 2 Phoenix Country Day School Eagles in Paradise Valley.
Division III State Individual Tourneys
The Division III state individual tourneys, singles, and doubles also have 16 slots in the first round at Glendale Paseo Racquet Center, 6268 West Thunderbird Road, beginning on Friday, April 26. Section I teams landed four singles and six doubles slots, with Thatcher having two singles and two doubles entrants, Safford one singles and one doubles, Willcox two doubles, Benson one singles, and Morenci one doubles. Duncan and Pima did not have qualifiers.
Singles 10 a.m. pairings have Match No. 4: Thatcher junior Eli McNeil (11-2 seeding) versus Chandler Lincoln Prep junior Timothy Tu (9-4), Match No. 10: Benson junior Matt Volker (7-5) vs. No. 3 Gilbert Classical senior Mauricio Rubino (7-2), Match No. 11: Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic junior David Drejza (10-3) vs. Thatcher junior Bryson Scorse (11-0), and Match No. 16: Safford junior Bo Bowman (6-5) vs. Tucson Tanque Verde senior Joel Hetland (10-0).
Doubles 11 a.m. pairings have Match No. 1: No. 1 Phoenix Country Day School senior Jacque Sevrain – junior Linus Gino-Griffiths (9-0) versus Safford junior Camden Montierth – senior Kody Gluyas (6-4), Match No. 2: Morenci seniors Andrew McCallum – Jakob Camacho (7-4) vs. Patagonia senior William Botz – sophomore Jaxxon Islava (5-2), Match No. 5: Willcox juniors Nathaniel Aguilar – Andy Osomio (8-4) vs. No. 5 Thatcher sophomore Isaac Palmer – senior Brock Smith (11-1), Match No. 15: Willcox juniors Elijah Bhasme – Andy Ramil (9-2) vs. Florence seniors Vasili Apostolo – Michael Katsouras (10-2), and Match No. 16: Glendale Prep senior Judson Terpstra – freshman Jai Chaudhary (8-2) vs. No. 2 Thatcher senior Gene Huish – sophomore Braden Huish (11-0).
Division III State Team Tourney
The Division III state tourney quarterfinals on May 1 have No. 8 Tucson’s The Gregory School (11-1 seeding) versus No. 1 Thatcher (14-0), 601 North 3rd Avenue; No. 13 Tucson Sabino (5-2) vs. No. 5 Tucson Tanque Verde (9-3) at Fort Lowell Park, 2998 North Craycroft Road; No. 6 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (12-3) vs. No. 3 Anthem Prep (9-0) at Phoenix Ironwood Country Club, 41551 North Anthem Hills Drive; and No. 7 Gilbert Classical (7-2) vs. No. 2 Phoenix Country Day School (12-0) at Phoenix Tennis Center, 6330 North 21st Avenue.
Round One results had No. 1 Thatcher over No. 16 Florence 5-0, No. 8 Tucson’s The Gregory School over No. 9 Glendale Prep 5-3, No. 5 Tucson Tanque Verde over No. 12 Chandler Lincoln Prep 9-0, No. 4 Scottsdale Prep over No. 13 Tucson Sabino 5-2, No. 3 Anthem Prep over No. 14 Saint David 5-1, No. 6 Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian over No. 11 Avondale Saint John Paul II Catholic 5-0, No. 7 Gilbert Classical over No. 10 Yuma Catholic 5-2, and No. 2 Phoenix Country Day School over No. 15 Safford 5-0.
No. 8 The Gregory School (11-1 seeding, 4.1372 rating)
The Gregory School (11-1) had seeding wins over Tucson Amphitheater (9-0, Feb. 27), Tucson Palo Verde Magnet (9-0, March 6), Pima (9-0, March 11), Willcox (8-1, March 12), Tucson Saint Augustine (9-0, March 13). Tucson Desert Christian (8-1, March 19), Saint David (5-4, March 22). Tucson Sunnyside (9-0, March 27), Patagonia (9-0, April 10). Tucson Sahuaro (9-0, April 12), and Tombstone (9-0, April 16). The loss was to Tucson Tanque Verde (2-7, March 5).
The Mark Swenson-coached No. 8 Hawks were 65-7 (128-18 sets) in singles and 31-5 in doubles.
Individually, sophomore John Samil was 10-2 (19-3 sets), junior Jack Borens 8-2 (15-3 sets), freshman Marcus Swanson 6-1 (11-2 sets), sophomore Anthi Christoforidid 10-0 (19-0 sets), junior Lucas Clemens 12-1 (23-2 sets), junior Emil Yepiz 10-1 (17-3 sets), freshman Matt Capaldi 6-0 (10-0 sets), freshman Thomas Escobedo 2-0 (3-0 sets), and freshman Nicholas Larson 1-0 (2-0 sets).
In doubles, Samil – Borens was 5-1, Swanson – Clemens 2-1, Christoforidid – Yepiz 5-0, Samil – Swanson 4-0, Borens – Christoforidid 1-1, Clemens – Yepiz 4-1, Samil – Clemens 1-0, Swanson – Christoforidid 1-0, Christoforidid – Capaldi 1-0, Christoforidid – Clemens 1-1, Capaldi – Larson 2-0, Yepiz – Capaldi 1-2, Yepiz – Escobedo 1-0, and Capaldi – Escobedo 1-0.
No. 1 Thatcher (14-0 seeding, 20.7760 rating)
Thatcher (14-0 seeding) had seeding wins over Waddell American Leadership – West Foothills (9-0, Feb. 27), Miami (9-0, Feb. 29), Tucson Pusch Ridge Christian (6-3, March 5), Tucson Tanque Verde (6-3, March 6), Gilbert Classical (6-0, March 7), Tucson Sabino (3-0, March 25), Pima (9-0, March 28), Safford (9-0, March 29), Morenci (9-0, April 2), Willcox (9-0, April 4), Benson (9-0, April 9), Duncan (9-0, April 11), Prescott Valley Bradshaw Mountain (8-1, April 15), and Safford (8-1, April 16).
The Chris Cook-coached No. 1 Eagles were 71-7 (131-18 sets) in singles and 38-1 in doubles. Six singles pairings and three doubles were not played.
Individually, senior Gene Huish was 8-4 (15-9 sets), sophomore Braden Huish 11-1 (22-2 sets), junior Eli McNeil 11-2 (21-4 sets), sophomore Isaac Palmer 12-0 (23-1 sets), senior Brock Smith 13-0 (23-1 sets), junior Bryson Scorse 12-0 (23-1 sets), junior Luke Allen 2-0 (3-0 sets), sophomore Topher Rubacalva 1-0 (1-0), and junior Chad Palmer (1-0 (1-0).
In doubles, Huish – Huish was 11-0, Isaac Palmer – Smith 11-1, McNeil – Scorse 9-0, and McNeil – Allen 1-0, Allen – Rubacalva 2-0, Gene Huish – Allen 2-0, Braden Huish – Isaac Palmer 1-0, and Braden Huish – McNeil 1-0.
Thatcher – 5, Florence – 0
Only five singles matches were needed for one team to advance. The host Eagles had wins from senior Gene Huish over junior Evan Quick (6-1, 6-0), sophomore Braden Huish over Jackson Potter (6-0 twice), sophomore Isaac Palmer over senior Michael Katsouras (6-0, 6-2), senior Brock Smith over senior Ty Thomas (6-0 twice), and junior Bryson Scorse over freshman Alfred Zaklit (6-0, 6-1). Junior Eli McNeil did not need to finish his match with senior Vasili Apostolos as the first team to win five matches is declared the winner.
Phoenix Country Day – 5, Safford – 0
The Eagles eliminated the Bulldogs in five matches. It was senior Jacques Sevrain over junior Camden Montierth (6-0 twice), junior Linus Gino-Griffiths over senior Kody Gluyas (6-0 twice), junior Dasch Gorcyca over junior Bo Bowman (6-1, 6-0), freshman Garrett Valdes over senior Thomas Biggs (6-0 twice), and junior Dylan Grossman over senior Brayden Bowman (6-2 twice). The sixth singles match between sophomore Kongkasem Suchart and junior Xavier Owens was not completed.
Division III Final State Rankings
The Division III Final State Top 16 Rankings at 9 a.m. on April 18 included four teams from Section VII; three from Section II; two from Sections I, III, IV, and V; and one from Section VI.
Thatcher (14-0 seeding, 20.7760 rating) was No. 1, Phoenix Country Day (12-0, 19.3605) No. 2, Anthem Prep (9-0, 17.1219) No. 3, Scottsdale Prep (9-2, 12.6977) No. 4, Tanque Verde (9-3, 12.5726) No. 5, Pusch Ridge (12-3, 11.0194) No. 6, Gilbert Classical (7-2, 10.3002) No. 7, and The Gregory School (11-1, 9.6715) No. 8.
Glendale Prep (10-2, 9.2079) was No. 9, Yuma Catholic (7-2, 8.6673) No. 10, Saint John Paul II (10-3, 8.6673) No. 11, Lincoln Prep (9-2, 7.7370) No. 12, Sabino (5-2, 4.4826) No. 13, Saint David (9-3, 5.0807) No. 14, Safford (8-5, 4.1372) No. 15, and Florence (8-4, 3.5700) No. 16.
Division III – Section I Final Standings
The final standings were Thatcher (14-0 seeding, 6-0 section) first, Willcox (9-4, 5-1) second, Safford (9-4, 4-2) third, Pima (6-7, 3-3) fourth, Morenci (4-9, 2-4) fifth, Benson (4-8, 1-5) sixth, and Duncan (0-12, 0-6) seventh.
No. 15 Safford (8-5 seeding, 4.1372 rating)
Safford (4-2) had section wins over Benson (9-0, March 28), Duncan (9-0, April 2), Pima (9-0, April 4), and Morenci (9-0, April 9). The Katie Jones-coached No. 15 Bulldogs were 52-26 (91-52 sets) in singles and 26-14 in doubles. The records included 11 forfeit wins, seven in singles and four in doubles
Individually, junior Camden Montierth was 9-3 (17-8 sets), senior Kody Gluyas 6-4 (11-8 sets), junior Bo Bowman 6-5 (12-9 sets), senior Thomas Biggs 10-3 (18-6 sets), junior Xavier Owens 7-6 (11-11 sets), junior Owen Price 5-1 (7-2 sets), senior Brayden Bowman 4-2 (8-5 sets), junior Zane Robinson 2-0 (3-0 sets), and senior Carter Bills 3-2 (4-3 sets).
In doubles, Montierth – Gluyas was 6-4, Biggs – Owens 5-2, Bo Bowman – Bills 3-1, Montierth – Bo Bowman 2-0, Montierth – Robinson 1-0, Bo Bowman – Price 0-1, Bo Bowman – Owens 3-2, Biggs – Price 1-0, Biggs – Brayden Bowman 2-3, Owens – Price 1-0, and Price – Bills 2-1.
No. 17 Willcox (9-4 seeding, 3.3179 rating)
Willcox (5-1) had section wins over Duncan (9-0, March 7), Pima (9-0, March 26), Morenci (9-0, March 28), Benson (8-1, April 2), and Safford (5-4, April 8). The Mike Kauffman-coached No. 17 Cowboys were 45-21 (51-37 sets) in singles and 24-9 in doubles. The records include 18 forfeit wins, 11 in singles and seven in doubles.
Individually, junior Nathaniel Aguilar was 7-4 (8-7 sets), junior Keanu Ramil 7-4 (8-7 sets), senior Lane Whetten 8-1 (9-2 sets), junior Elijah Bhasme 6-4 (7-7 sets), junior Andy Osomio 6-4 (6-6 sets), junior Kyle McClaine 8-3 (9-6 sets), freshman J.D. Whetten 2-0 (3-0 sets), and junior Luke Perolino 1-1 (1-2 sets).
In doubles, Aguilar – Osomio is 7-3, Ramil – Bhasme 7-2, Lane Whetten – McClain 4-1, Whetten – Whetten 4-0, Aguilar – Bhasme 0-1, Ramil – McClaine 1-1, and McClaine – Perolino 1-1.
No. 23 Pima (6-7 seeding, minus 1.7728 rating)
Pima (3-3) had section wins over Duncan (8-1, March 12), Benson (7-2, April 4), and Morenci (5-4, April 16). The Torrie Baldwin-coached No. 23 Roughriders were 29-49 (41-90) in singles and 15-24 in doubles. The records included 15 forfeit wins, 10 in singles, and five in doubles.
Individually, sophomore Garth Lunt was 2-9 (5-16 sets), sophomore Jackson Paul 5-8 (7-16 sets), freshman Colt Lunt 5-8 (8-15 sets), sophomore Kyler Reed 5-7 (6-11 sets), junior Mac Bryce 5-6 (7-11 sets), freshman Eli Rogers 6-7 (7-13 sets), freshman Oliver McCray 1-3 (1-6 sets), and freshman Logan McCray 0-1 (0-2 sets).
In doubles, Garth Lunt – Reed was 2-5, Reed – Bryce 3-4, Colt Lunt – Rogers 5-7, Garth Lunt – Paul 0-4, Lunt – Lunt 1-0, Bryce – Paul 1-3, Paul – Oliver McCray 1-0, Paul – Rogers 0-1, Reed – Oliver McCray 0-2, and McCray – McCray 0-1.
No. 28 Morenci (4-9 seeding, minus 5.7992 rating)
Morenci (2-4) had section wins over Benson (6-3, April 3) and Duncan (7-0, April 4). The Brenda Street-coached Wildcats were 26-36 (29-52 sets) in singles and 12-14 in doubles. A total of 24 forfeits were yielded, 13 singles and 11 doubles, as well as four double forfeits, two in singles and two in doubles.
Individually, junior Tristan Burke was 5-6 (6-7 sets), senior Andrew McCallum 5-8 (6-11 sets), senior Jakob Camacho 6-7 (6-11 sets), senior Derik Jones 6-6 (7-10 sets), and freshman Jayden Cueto 4-9 (4-13 sets).
In doubles, McCallum – Camacho was 7-4, Burke – Jones 5-5, McCallum – Jones 0-2, Camacho – Cueto 0-2, and Burke – Cueto 0-1.
No. 30 Benson (4-8 seeding, minus 6.3006 rating)
The Julie Christensen-coached Benson Bobcats (1-5) were 27-45 (37-81 sets) in singles and 11-25 in doubles. The marks included 11 forfeit wins, eight in singles, and three in doubles.
Individually, junior Matt Volker was 7-5 (12-10 sets), junior Jonathan Woodward 4-8 (7-8 sets), junior Nathan Bullock 5-7 (3-12 sets), sophomore Ely Little 3-7 (4-12 sets), sophomore Kane Murray 3-8 (4-13 sets), freshman Casey Acuna 4-7 (5-11 sets), sophomore Isaac Garcia 1-1 (1-2 sets), sophomore Cody Miller 0-1 (0-2 sets), and freshman Samuel Preston 0-1 (0-1 sets).
In doubles, Volker – Woodward is 3-5, Bullock – Murray 0-5, Garcia – Preston 1-3, Volker – Bullock 0-1, Bullock – Little 1-2, Woodward – Little 0-1, Acuna – Preston 1-1, Murray – Garcia 0-1, Acuna – Garcia 1-0, and Acuna – Little 0-1.
No. 42 Duncan (0-12 seeding, minus 17.7849 rating)
The Shannon Kempton-coached Duncan Wildkats (0-6) were 4-18 (7-31 sets) in singles and 2-8 in doubles numbering two student-athletes. A total of 76 matches could not be played, 50 singles and 26 doubles matches, for lack of personnel. The records included 72 forfeits (48 singles, 24 doubles) and four double forfeits or a competitor unavailable for either team.
Individually, senior Ezekiel Cauthen was 0-12 (0-21 sets), and junior Tim Lunt was 4-6 (7-10 sets). The pair was 2-8 in doubles.
