By Rubin E. Grant
As far as Vestavia Hills boys tennis coach Oliver Aaron was concerned, a favorable draw at the AHSAA State Tennis Championships wasn’t the only thing the Rebels needed to successfully defend their Class 7A title.
“I felt we could go to Mobile and compete,” Aaron said, “but there are a number of 7A teams who would have a shot to win it. You don’t know until the draw the night before.
“Coming out of the draw, I felt like we had a shot, but we had to play really well because there are good players across the state and good coaches across the state who have their teams prepared.”
The Rebels proved they were well prepared too, capturing their second consecutive boys Class 7A state championship last Friday at the Mobile Tennis Center.
The Rebels won five of the six singles tiles and one doubles crown to win the eighth state title in school history.
Vestavia Hills had 53 points. Bob Jones, which swept the No. 1 singles and doubles championships, was second with 26 points. Auburn was third with 18.
“It’s pretty exciting to go back-to-back,” Aaron said. “I think our depth is what made the difference.”
The Rebels got a major boost when sophomore Luke Bedwell won No. 2 singles, defeating Hoover’s Gavin Patton 6-4, 6-3.
“We hadn’t won No. 2 singles in a while,” Aaron said. “Bedwell had good matches all week and worked really hard.”
Junior John Michael Yanosky and Kade Nelson, one of only two seniors in the Rebels’ lineup, won the No. 3 singles and No. 4 singles titles. Yanosky defeated Montgomery Academy’s John Alford 6-2, 6-4, and Nelson defeated Hoover’s Jackson Plugge 6-1, 6-0.
Rounding out the Rebels’ singles champs were Brayden Helms at No. 5 and Andrew Pipkin at No. 6. Helms defeated Auburn’s Kevin Yan 6-4, 6-1, and Pipkin defeated Bob Jones’ Karthik Kaki 6-0, 6-0.
“To be able to win 2-6 singles and winning No. 2 doubles was huge,” Aaron said.
Bob Jones junior Parker Free captured the No. 1 singles title with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Hoover’s Samuel Sellers in the finals. It was his second state championship. He also won the 7A No. 1 singles crown in 2022.
Free teamed with fellow junior Jonah Moro to win the No. 1 doubles championship, defeating Vestavia Hills’ duo Nelson and Yanosky 6-3, 6-1 in the finals.
The Rebels won No. 2 doubles with Bedwell teaming with senior Jake Anthony to defeat Chen Joiner and Cade Black of Florence 6-3, 6-2.
“Jake lost in the singles semifinals, so it was good to have him bounce back in doubles and win,” Aaron said.
Vestavia Hills’ No. 3 doubles team of Pipkin and Ben Cusumariu fell in the finals to Auburn’s duo of Kaleb Kirkland and Luis Jeong, 7-6, 6-3.
Vestavia Hills finished the regular season 16-1 in duals competition with the only loss coming in February to eventual Class 6A state champion Mountain Brook.
“I think the match against Mountain Brook helped get us prepared for the state tournament,” Aaron said. “It was fun getting to play them.”
The Rebels also won the 7A state title in 2019 – giving Vestavia Hills three championships in Class 7A and five in Class 6A. The three titles in 7A tie for the most in that division with Mountain Brook, which won three before dropping down to 6A.
Vestavia Girls
Vestavia Hills’ girls team came up short in its bid to win back-to-back Class 7A titles as Auburn claimed its second title in three years.
Auburn totaled 59 points over the two-day state tournament and the Rebels finished second with 31 points.
Vestavia Hills’ Caroline Drew lost to Auburn’s Camille Bosman 6-2, 6-0 in the No. 2 singles final. The Rebels’ Nancy Chen lost to Auburn’s Shreya Ejantkar 6-1, 0-6, 10-6 in the No. 5 singles final.
Hoover’s Kristina Hwango lost to Auburn’s Victoria Choo 7-6, 7-5 in the No. 4 singles championship match.
Montgomery Academy senior Gabby Barrera won the No. 1 singles championship, beating defending state champion Claire Bosman of Auburn in the finals 6-3, 6-0.
The Rebels’ team of Kensley Outzen and Lynley Threadcraft won No. 2 doubles, defeating Auburn’s Choo and Kathryn Kirkland 4-6, 6-3, 10-3.
In the No. 3 doubles championship match, Vestavia Hills’ Caroline Helms and Wynn Strubel lost to Auburn’s Sophie Smith and Hanbi Youn 6-3, 7-5.
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