Familiar faces triumph in Nebraska high school boys' state championships

For the fourth year in a row, the Lincoln East Spartans not only won the Class A Boys State Tennis Championships, but they swept in every category yet again at the Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) tournament on Oct. 21-22 at Woods Tennis Center in Lincoln.

“This was an incredible season for Lincoln East boys’ tennis,” said coach Chris Stock. “I am proud of the guys for sticking with the process of finding things to get better at each week. We had to overcome adversity this season, and that makes it all the sweeter when it’s all said and done.”

East junior Hunter Nelson breezed through the two-day tournament, never dropping a set. He beat freshman Owen Brown 6-1, 6-2 to claim the No. 1 singles title for the third year in a row. At No. 2 singles, junior Simon Johnson also cruised through, beating Creighton Prep’s Blake Gocken 6-0, 6-2. It was Johnson’s first time at state.

“It felt really good to finally have a spot in the top six to be able to participate in the state tournament, and it felt great to win,” Johnson said. “To prepare for the season I played quite a few USTA tournaments.”

At the top doubles spot, senior Caden Haar and junior Samarth Sajeesh handily defeated Creighton Prep’s Benjamin Clausen and Rowan Lunning 6-2, 6-3.

At No. 2 doubles, Spartans Joseph Bucknell and Kayden Le overcame Lincoln Southwest’s Brady Hung and Edin Mujagic 6-0, 6-4.

Following East in the top spot, Creighton Prep placed second, Lincoln Southeast was third and Lincoln Southwest came in at fourth.