Falling into place: Lone Peak boys tennis wins 6A title thanks to tremendous performances
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- The Lone Peak boys tennis team poses for a photo with the championship trophy after the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak boys tennis team poses for a photo with the championship trophy after the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak second doubles team of Cache Dowdle (left) and Adam Smith celebrate after winning their division during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The American Fork second doubles team of Jared Shepherd and Maxwell Penrod (left) congratulate the Lone Peak duo of Adam Smith and Cache Dowdle during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Calvin Armstrong poses for a photo after winning the first singles title during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Farmington senior Charles Frey congratulates Skyridge junior Calvin Armstrong the first singles finals during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak boys tennis team celebrates receiving the championship trophy after the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Lone Peak sophomore Cache Dowdle hits the ball during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak first doubles team of Luke Miller and Ashton Cahoon pose for a photo with their first-place medals after the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Skyridge junior Calvin Armstrong (right) poses for a photo with his dad after winning the first singles title during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak boys tennis team poses for a photo with the championship trophy after the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- American Fork junior Maxwell Penrod hits a volley during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- American Fork senior Jared Shepherd serves the ball during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior Adam Smith serves the ball during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- American Fork senior Jared Shepherd hits the ball during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Lone Peak first doubles team of Luke Miller and Ashton Cahoon compete during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Skyridge second doubles team of Crew Mandelaris and Brandon Poulsen compete during the 6A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Orem second doubles team of Kyle Davidson and Steele Dayton compete The Mountain View first doubles team of Coleman Pearson and Andrew Thompson compete during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Orem second doubles team of Kyle Davidson and Steele Dayton compete The Mountain View first doubles team of Coleman Pearson and Andrew Thompson compete during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Orem second doubles team of Kyle Davidson and Steele Dayton compete The Mountain View first doubles team of Coleman Pearson and Andrew Thompson compete during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- Orem senior Sascha Voronetskyi congratulates Crimson Cliffs senior Max Miner after the first singles semifinal match during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Mountain View first doubles team of Coleman Pearson and Andrew Thompson compete during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
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- The Mountain View first doubles team of Coleman Pearson and Andrew Thompson compete during the 4A state tournament at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 11, 2024.
Lone Peak head boys tennis coach Roger Baumgartner joked after the conclusion of the 6A state tournament on Saturday that the most valuable player for the Knights wasn’t even a Knight.
To understand that statement, it’s important to know what Baumgartner was looking at as Lone Peak got ready for the finals, which took place at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.
He knew that his squad had good singles players and excellent doubles teams. Farmington, on the other hand, had excellent singles players and was solid in doubles.
“We knew that our doubles teams are always tough,” Baumgartner said. “We always play good doubles. But we also knew we had to win both of those spots and somehow Farmington had to lose one of their singles.”
The Knights had two chances to defeat their Phoenix counterparts in singles finals competition but Farmington junior Justin Steed beat Lone Peak junior Tate Squires (6-0, 6-0) in second singles and Phoenix junior Nathaniel Bullard defeated Knight sophomore Cache Gardner (6-0, 6-2) in third singles.
So Lone Peak needed a little help.
And Skyridge junior Calvin Armstrong came through.
Armstrong lined up against Farmington senior Charles Frey and played a fantastic match and got the stunning 6-4, 6-2 victory.
“It was amazing,” Armstrong said. “I couldn’t believe it. I’ve been working so hard for this and it finally happened. I was so happy. It was awesome.”
He said the key was being mentally strong and focusing on one point at a time. Even though he had a big lead, the Falcon junior said it was still relieving to finish off the final point.
“He had the serve and then I hit a return,” Armstrong said. “It was a little short ball and then he came in. I hit a ball and he missed the volley into the net. I’m honestly still in shock. I can’t believe it.”
He said his favorite part was being out there with all his friend supporting him as he made each shot.
“It was a blast,” he said.
Armstrong’s win suddenly opened the door for Lone Peak and gave the Knights a chance — but they had to have their doubles teams come through.
The Lone Peak No. 1 doubles team of Luke Miller and Ashton Cahoon did their part, defeating the Skyridge duo of Andrew Allen and Jaden Peck in the finals.
So the team championship came down to whether the No. 2 doubles team of Adam Smith and Cache Dowdle could win their title match — but rivals Jared Shepherd and Maxwell Penrod of American Fork would do everything they could to stop them.
“They are our buddies and we wanted to play them,” Smith said. “It was just a battle.”
Smith and Dowdle said they knew what was on the line, but tried not to think about it.
Shepherd and Penrod put the pressure on, winning the first set in a tiebreaker and have the match tied at 5-5 in the second before the Knights pulled away for the 7-5 win.
In the winner-take-all third set, Lone Peak got out to an early lead, only to see the Cavemen come roaring back to the match at 4-4.
“It was wild,” Dowdle said. “We went out hard at the start, but then they matched us and they played really good tennis. In the end, we got the W. We got just one more good point than they did. But it was super fun.”
The Knights held serve, then broke through to close out the 6-4 win to secure both the division title and the team crown for Lone Peak.
“It was kind of unbelievable,” Smith said. “I knew that would clinch it for the team, so it was just awesome.”
Watching that final match was intense for Baumgartner, who has tremendous respect for the Cavemen.
“It was really about keeping our intensity,” he said. “I told them that we got here from playing to win. They turned their energy up at the right time.
“I love American Fork. I have great relationship with the kids and the coaches in our region, so I was really proud of them and happy for them too. But we’ve had some epic matches with American Fork throughout the last 10 years and a lot of them were in the finals. I’ve been on both sides of those. So we got lucky on this one.”
With the win, the Knights got to celebrate one of the more unanticipated championships in Baumgartner’s career.
“I had a parent asked me where this ranks because we’ve won a number of titles,” Baumgartner said. “I said this is the No. 1. This is the most unexpected outcome that we’ve had. I looked at the draws and I was like man, it would be really cool to take second. It was totally unexpected.”
In addition to Lone Peak’s championship, Armstrong helped Skyridge come in third as a team, while Shepherd and Penrod helped American Fork get fourth.
He said he gave Armstrong a big hug to express his gratitude for the assist.
“I’m so happy for him because he just played the match of his life right there,” Baumgartner said. “It wasn’t easy. That’s got to be his number one win I would think. That was an awesome final.”
When the dust settled, he got to savor the success of a 2024 team that he said is made up of a lot of great players.
“I’m really happy for these kids,” Baumgartner said. “As proud as I am for them experiencing this, they are even better human beings. They’re just great kids so we’re really lucky.”
It will be an experience the Knights will always remember.
“It’s amazing,” Dowdle said. “I’ve dreamed of this since I was a little kid playing tennis. I’d go up and watch the Lone Peak matches and just wish I was on the team so I could be here and do this. It’s a dream come true.”
Orem boys tennis finishes third in Class 4A
The Orem boys tennis team put together a solid performance at the 4A state finals but wasn’t quite able to get over the top against the leviathans from St. George.
The Tigers had three singles players and a doubles team reach the semifinals, with senior Tyler Jenson going on to the finals in third singles and the freshman duo of Kyle Davidson and Steele Dayton making it to the championship in No. 2 doubles.
But as a team Orem ended up behind Desert Hills (45 points) and Crimson Cliffs (42 points) in the final standings.
6A team scores
1. Lone Peak, 51
2. Farmington, 49
3. Skyridge, 38
4. American Fork, 25
5. Corner Canyon, 21
4A team scores
1. Desert Hills, 45
2. Crimson Cliffs, 42
3. Orem, 33
4. Dixie, 30
5. Logan, 25
