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.
During the Class B state tournament, also at Woods Tennis Center on Oct. 17-18, Mount Michael Benedictine claimed three of the four categories and won the team competition. Senior Ian Scott took home the No. 1 singles trophy, beating Waverly senior Grey Klucas 6-2, 6-1. Over at No. 2 singles his brother, Royce Klucas, came out ahead against Mount Michael’s Connor Chen 7-6, 6-4.
“It feels great to end my high school career on a win and to have my team, coaches and friends supporting me; really meant the world,” Royce Klucas said. “Both my coaches and I worked the whole season for the state tournament, and to win it like I did is really special.”
At No. 1 doubles, Mount Michael’s Patrick Killeen and Noah Stricklett came out on top of Elkhorn North’s Andrew Shada and Jacob Petrick 6-3, 7-5. Mount Michael claimed the gold again at No. 2 doubles, with Dominic Beninato/Peter Killeen defeating Elkhorn North’s Alejandro Gonzalez Banos and Brody Armbrust 6-1, 6-2.
“This was a special year because we had so much success as a team,” said Mount Michael coach Chase Petersen. “It was not just winning matches that was a success, but breaking down mental barriers and coming together to really bond as a unit.”
Following Mount Michael, Elkhorn North came in second, Waverly third and Lincoln Pius X rounded out the top four. For more information and results from the 2024 NSAA Boys Tennis Championships, click here.
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