USTA Missouri Valley boys make history at Battle of the Sections

That came in no small part because of the battles the players have had against one another.

“They got to that moment the same way — together,” Jared Ward said. “Not just over this weekend but over the last eight years. Battling against each other, with each other, traveling the country and supporting each other, having dinners and sharing hotel rooms weekend after weekend, year after year.

“Those kind of experiences forged the bonds that created an incredible amount of faith in each other.”

That faith was tested heavily in the semifinals against USTA Texas. After Missouri Valley dispatched USTA Southwest in the Round of 16, Ward’s team topped USTA Midwest in the quarterfinals. But Missouri Valley trailed Texas 3-1 with a trip to the title match in the balance.

Nelson gutted out a second-set tiebreaker, Potter came back to win the third set against a player he’d never beaten and Markham rolled to a victory. Texas, one of just five sections to ever win the event coming into this year, was knocked out.

In the finals against USTA Eastern, Missouri Valley dropped the doubles point to fall into an early hole. Micah Ward dominated his match, though, to level the contest. Both Feehan and Beltran saved their best matches of the event for last to set up Poojari’s heroics.

After quickly losing the opening set 0-6, Poojari came roaring back to clinch the title and make Missouri Valley history. While Jared Ward’s team — which included his son — celebrated after championship point, the coach raised a clenched fist in the air in excitement and relief.

“One of the best moments I’ve ever had on court,” he said.

The Battle of the Sections, previously called Intersectionals, has mostly been won by the most populous sections since 1996. USTA Southern California (nine titles), USTA Southern (seven) and USTA Texas (four) have dominated the event, with USTA Midwest, USTA Florida and USTA Mid-Atlantic with one title apiece.

Now, USTA Missouri Valley has joined that championship list.

“In an event dominated by the big boys, we are the smallest section to ever win,” Jared Ward said. “If it happens again, it will be in no small part due to the belief sparked by this team.”

Want to learn more about junior team tournaments? Click here for info about the upcoming L3 Closed Junior Cup Team Championship, and click here to learn more about the L2 Battle of the Mississippi.