Four-peat: Skyridge girls tennis continues 6A domination with impressive showing
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- The Skyridge girls tennis team celebrates with the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Sophia Bleak (right) gets a hug from Falcon senior Kylee Sperry after the 6A girls tennis No. 2 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- The Skyridge girls tennis team poses for a photo with the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Bella Lewis hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge senior Kylee Sperry hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge juniors Sophia Bleak and Ava Ericksen celebrate winning a point during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- The Skyridge girls tennis team celebrates getting the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge sophomore Andi Armstrong (right) and senior Kylee Sperry talk to a coach during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Sophia Bleak hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Kaia Sperry hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- The Skyridge girls tennis team poses for a photo with the state championship trophy after the 6A finals at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Ava Ericksen hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge sophomore Andi Armstrong hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge senior Kylee Sperry hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Naomi Johnson hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 3 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Naomi Johnson hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 3 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Bella Lewis hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Bella Lewis waits for a serve during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Kaia Sperry prepares to serve during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Skyridge junior Kaia Sperry hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 2 singles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Ruby Bautista (right) and senior Mia Black celebrate winning a point during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Ruby Bautista hits a shot during the 6A girls tennis No. 1 doubles final at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
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- The Lone Peak girls tennis team poses for a photo after the 6A finals at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023.
Skyridge senior Kylee Sperry is accustomed to seeing the Falcon girls tennis team hoist championship trophies.
In her four years as part of the squad, that’s how the season ended every year and 2023 was no different in that regard as Skyridge pulled away to secure their four-peat.
What was different, however, was that as the Falcons stepped forward to accept the hardware representing their fourth straight 6A title, each of the Skyridge athletes had a medal around their neck.
“It takes a team to win state, so having everyone in the finals is what gave us the title,” Sperry said. “I’m really proud of everyone and how we all did.”
Five of them were first-place medals as both Falcon doubles teams (Sperry and sophomore Andi Armstrong in No. 1 doubles and juniors Sophia Bleak and Ava Ericksen in No. 2 doubles) won their brackets and Skyridge junior Bella Lewis came in first in No. 1 singles.
While two the Falcons had to settle for runner-up medals in No. 2 and No. 3 singles, having Skyridge representatives in the title matches in all five events was something special to see.
“We’d never done that before,” Falcon head coach Ben Armstrong said. “That was one of the goals we had. This is a group I have been involved with their whole time. It’s awesome to see the amount work they all put in to get to where they are at. They still had to perform and they did that.”
The team success was the thing Sperry said she treasured most because of how special this year’s team was.
“It’s been awesome,” Sperry said. “Our team environment is incredible. It is one of the best team environments that a high school tennis team could imagine. It’s been awesome to win all four years of state. We got here because of our coaches and our parents who raised us, and all our hard work. That’s how it has been all four years. I love Skyridge.”
Sperry and Andi Armstrong squared off against a familiar opponent from Region 3 as they battled Lone Peak sophomore Ruby Bautista and senior Mia Black.
“It was fun,” Sperry said. “I’ve played Lone Peak in finals before, so it was fun to do it again and go all out.”
Lewis, for her part, knew she was in for a tough challenge as she took on top-seeded Tia Christopulos, a junior from Layton.
“She played really well but I played well too,” Lewis said. “It was enjoyable but kind of nerve-wracking.”
Ben Armstrong said Lewis hadn’t been at 100% leading up to the tournament but was proud of how she stepped up on the biggest stage.
“First singles is the toughest route you can have,” Ben Armstrong said. “Bella works extremely hard. After being under the weather for the last week, she was hoping she would have the energy to be able to perform. She ended up fighting hard and making it happen.”
Lewis also said that she loves being part of the Falcon team.
“It’s been amazing,” Lewis said. “Our coach always says we are living the dream and that’s how it is. It is a super-good environment with good coaches too. We have a great team. We all care for each other. We are all just doing our best and supporting each other as we grow.”
Bleak and Ericksen finished strong by beating Weber junior Millie Hardy and sophomore Gracie Toole in the No. 2 doubles final.
Skyridge juniors Kaia Sperry and Naomi Johnson played well in their No. 2 and No. 3 singles championship matches with each going to three sets. In the end, however, Layton’s Tana Christopoulos and Victoria Cooksey were able to get the wins.
Ben Armstrong said that one of the keys to the success of the 2023 Falcon squad was the Skyridge tennis community.
“I’m proud to be part of it,” Ben Armstrong said. “We have probably the largest community involvement that exists. It’s neat to see everyone put in their time and effort to help these girls be their best. It’s awesome.”
All of the athletes and those who have supported them got to savor seeing the girls hoist the championship trophy high once again.
“It’s fun,” Ben Armstrong said. “It’s so great to see the joy on a girl’s face when she finally wins that last match. That to me is priceless. It’s something that keeps me coming back. It’s moments like that that make it worthwhile.”
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