By Jon Johnson
PHOENIX — Braden Huish and Isaac Palmer have put Thatcher tennis back in the championship spotlight. The No. 3-ranked Eagles doubles team will compete for the Boys Division III state title on Monday, May 4, at Paseo Racquet Center at 6268 W. Thunderbird Rd. in Glendale, with first serve scheduled for 5 p.m.
Huish and Palmer will face the No. 4-ranked duo of Drake Mills and Ryan Nicholl from American Leadership Academy – West Foothills in what promises to be a strong test between two confident teams that have each knocked off highly regarded opponents to reach the final.
The Thatcher pair has been dominant throughout the tournament. In the quarterfinals, they dispatched Ricky Blachly and Jaxon Savage of St. David by a convincing 6-1, 6-0 scoreline. In the semifinals, they cruised past the Herndon brothers, Nick and Lukas of Pusch Ridge, 6-0, 6-0, showing the kind of efficiency and court coverage that has defined their season.
Mills and Nicholl earned their spot in the final the hard way. They first defeated John Samii and Marcus Swenson of The Gregory School 6-2, 7-5 in the quarterfinals. Then, in a thrilling semifinal, they upset the No. 1-ranked team of Adam Olson and David Gonzalez from Sabino, winning 6-3, 3-6, 10-8 in a match tiebreak. That comeback victory demonstrated their resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
For the Eagles, reaching the state final represents the culmination of strong preparation and chemistry between Huish and Palmer. Their straight-set dominance in the later rounds highlights excellent serving, sharp net play, and consistent baseline rallying that have overwhelmed opponents.
Thatcher fans are encouraged to make the trip to Paseo Racquet Center to support the Eagles as they battle for the program’s next championship banner. The match will showcase two of the top doubles teams in Division III, with Huish and Palmer looking to cap an outstanding season with a state title.
The winner will claim the Division III crown in a matchup that features two well-coached, battle-tested pairs. Thatcher will look to dictate play early with their aggressive style, while ALA-West Foothills will rely on the momentum from their upset victory over the top seeds.
No. 3-ranked Thatcher team tennis will be back in action at home on Wednesday, May 6, as they take on No. 6 Florence in the Division III State Quarterfinals, starting at 3 p.m.
