Boys Tennis: Dramatic finish leads to American Fork nabbing 6A title
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- The American Fork boys tennis team poses for photos with the 6A state championship trophy at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Brandon Poulsen, left, and Jaden Peck of Skyridge celebrate winning the 6A boys tennis 2nd Doubles title at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- American Fork’s Braeden Johnson reacts after winning the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles title at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- American Fork boys tennis coach Jason Harrud talks to his 1st Doubles team during the 6A state championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Jaden Peck of Skyridge (center, white t-shirt) celebrates with teammates after a win in the 2nd Doubles competition in the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Brandon Poulsen, left, and Jaden Peck of Skyridge talk strategy during the 6A boys tennis 2nd Doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Adam Smith prepares to serve in the 6A boys tennis 2nd Doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge reacts after losing in the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak boys tennis fans watch a match through the fence at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Tate Squires serves the ball in the 6A boys tennis 1st Doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Luke Miller, left, and Tate Squires celebrate winning the 6A boys tennis 1st Doubles title at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Luke Miller (in black, left) and Tate Squires shake hands with American Fork players after winning the 6A 1st Doubles title at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge tries to overcome cramping during the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Tate Squires, right, and Luke Miller celebrates winning the 6A boys tennis 1st Doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- American Fork’s Braeden Johnson approaches a shot in the 6A 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak’s Luke Miller, left, and Tate Squires talk strategy during their 6A boys tennis 1st Doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Lone Peak boys tennis coach Roger Baumgartner (left) talks with the Knights’ 2nd Double team of Luke Miller (center) and Tate Squires at Liberty Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge waits during a time out of his 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge takes a shot in the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Skyridge boys tennis fans watch through a fence during the 6A state finals at Liberty Park on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge serves the ball in the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Calvin Armstrong of Skyridge takes a shot in the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- American Fork’s Braeden Johnson takes a shot in the 6A boys tennis 1st Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
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- Orem’s Grant Shelley takes a shot in the 4A boys tennis 3rd Singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
SALT LAKE CITY — After two days of intense drama, the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park definitely saved the best for last.
The team title — hotly contested between Region 3 powers American Fork, Skyridge and Lone Peak — came down to the final match of the day, which pitted Skyridge against Lone Peak in 2nd Doubles.
If the Knights won they would claim their second straight 6A team championship. If the Falcons won, the gold trophy would go to American Fork.
Needless to say, all eyes at Liberty Park were squarely on Court 4.
With the wind picking up and the rain starting to fall, Lone Peak’s Adam Smith and Cache Dowdle battled Skyridge’s Jaden Peck and Brandon Poulsen to a 6-6 tie in the deciding third set, extending the action to a tiebreaker that needed extra points to crown the winner. Peck and Poulsen finally prevailed 9-7, which set off a wild celebration by not only the Falcons and their fans but the American Fork contingent as well.
“Talk about a roller coaster,” Cavemen coach Jason Herrud said. “After you do everything you can and it’s out of your hands, you honestly just cheer for a great match. That was some great tennis. This was probably one of the most well-attended state championships I can remember. Never in my right mind would I have said it would come down to 2nd Doubles, third set and a tiebreaker. Last year, Lone Peak needed somebody to lose at the end to win the title and we were in the same position this year. So it’s kind of full circle, right? I never would have thought it would come down to us rooting for our rival to help us out, but it happened.”
Peck and Poulsen were mobbed by their own teammates after the victory and then American Fork came running onto the court to celebrate as well.
The enemy of your enemy is your friend.
Thanks, buddy.
“It was the tightest, closest match I’ve ever been in,” Peck said. “That team (Lone Peak) has only lost one set all year. It was our coaching that got us through. They always say just swing, one point at a time. There was no fear. This is my senior year. There’s no point in going out there trying to sissy the ball over, so I just swung and took what I could.
“Brandon, he saved me, bro. He’s out there screaming his head off at every point, screaming and celebrating with me. I love that man. Honestly, I have no energy right now. I told myself I was leaving it all on the court and I believe I did.”
It was the second boys tennis title for the Cavemen, which also won in 2022.
“We have kids that never even played a varsity or JV match, our practice squad, that are enjoying this more than just about anyone else,” Herrud said. “That’s kind of what it’s all about. It’s a culture, a community. It couldn’t have happened to a nicer group of boys.”
American Fork finished on top with 51 points, followed by Lone Peak with 49 and Skyridge with 43.
American Fork placed a semifinalist in every category but won only one finals match, and it was a classic. No. 1 seed Braeden Johnson (AF) and Lone Peak’s Calvin Armstrong, defending his 1st Singles championship, staged a terrific battle that tested both players physically and mentally. Johnson and Armstrong struggled through cramping and Johnson practically ran out of his shoes during one particularly long rally, needing replacement shoelaces to continue.
The two players split the first two sets and were tied at 3-3 in the third when another set of cramps hit Armstrong. He tried to fight through it and hit some wicked winners while flat footed, unable to to put pressure on his left leg. Eventually, Johnson took control and won the third set 6-3 for the title.
“I mean, it was a battle,” Herrud said. “I think the difference, honestly, it was physical. Both those guys were forcing the other player to move to play. These guys were hitting great shots but you couldn’t just hit a winner. You had to hit a winner two or three times.”
Johnson and his brother, Camden, moved to American Fork from Idaho and found a great kinship on the tennis team.
“The support from my team was awesome,” Braeden Johnson said. “It’s been so fun this year. I’m glad I played in Utah. I was thinking about playing this year back in Idaho with my friends but I finally decided to play here. My coaches have been awesome.
“I knew it was going to be a long match (with Armstrong) and I was mentally prepared to get through that grind. I was just outgrinding him. There were lots of tough points and tough games. I was cramping, too, but I I just tried to fight through as hard as I could.”
Camden Johnson defeated Davis Schulthies of Lone Peak 6-2, 6-2 in the semifinals of 2nd Singles but fell to Farmington’s Nathan Bullard 6-2, 7-5 in the final to finish as the runner-up.
The 3rd Singles title went to Lone Peak’s Ashton Cahoon, the top seed, who defeated No. 2 Matthew Davis of American Fork.
Lone Peak’s 1st Doubles team of Luke Miller and Tate Squires claimed another title for the Knights, beating American Fork’s Sam Karras and Maxwell Penrod 6-3, 6-4 in the final.
4A Boys Championship
Desert Hills defended its 2024 title, rolling to the team championship with 57 points on the strength of gold trophies in 3rd Singles, 1st Doubles and 2nd Doubles.
Orem finished tied for second with Crimson Cliffs at 36 points, going home with three second-place finishes.
The Tigers’ Grant Shelly topped Tanner Matheson of Crimson Cliffs 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) in the 3rd Singles semifinals to move on to the finals. No. 1 seed Matthew White of Desert Hills, who beat No. 4 Nate Edwards of Provo 6-4, 6-3 in the semifinals, claimed the title with a 6-0, 6-4 victory against Shelley.
Orem’s 1st Doubles team of Kaleb Knapp and Kade Inouye, the No. 3 seed, made it to the finals after beating Harith Sathish and Jaden Ngo of Hillcrest 7-6 (7-3), 6-0.
In the final, No. 1 seed William Gardner and Tyson Wilkins of Desert Hills topped Knapp and Inouye 6-4, 6-0.
At 2nd Doubles, Orem’s Kyle Davidson and Steele Dayton handled Connor and Noah Hoff of Crimson Cliffs 6-2, 6-3 to earn their way to the final. No. 1 seed Ethan Phelps and McKay Soliai of Desert Hills beat Davidson and Dayton 6-3, 6-2 in the 2nd Doubles final.
BOYS TENNIS
6A Championships at Liberty Park
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Team Scores: American Fork 51, Lone Peak 49, Skyridge 43, Farmington 33, Bingham 19.
1st Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Braeden Johnson, AF def. No. 4 Justin Steed, Farmington 6-1, 6-1 (2nd singles winner last year)
No. 2 Calvin Armstrong, Skyridge (1st single champ 2024) def. No. 3 Davis Aubrey, Bingham 6-3, 6-4
1st Singles Finals
No. 1 Braeden Johnson, AF def. No. 2 Calvin Armstrong, Skyridge
2nd Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Nathaniel Bullard, Farmington (3rd singles win 2024) def. No. 4 Stockton Dyer, Skyridge 6-2, 6-2
No. 2 Camden Johnson, AF def. No. 3 Davis Schulthies, Lone Peak 6-2, 7-6 (8-6)
2nd Singles Finals
No. 1 Nathaniel Bullard, Farmington def. No. 2 Camden Johnson, AF 6-2, 7-5
3rd Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Ashton Cahoon, Lone Peak (1st dbls win 2024) def. No. 4 Crew Mandelaris, Skyridge 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 Matthew Davis, AF (semis last season) def. L Steed, Farmington 6-1, 6-2
3rd Singles Finals
No. 1 Ashton Cahoon, Lone Peak vs. No. 2 Matthew Davis, American Fork
1st Doubles Semifinals
No. 1 Luke Miller/Tate Squires, Lone Peak def. No. 4 Michael Sperry/Hudson Holm, Skyridge 6-3, 6-2
No. 2 Sam Karras/Maxwell Penrod, AF def. No. 3 Kimball Warner/Reagan Hawks, Weber 6-4, 7-6 (7-2)
1st Doubles Finals
No. 1 Miller/Squires, Lone Peak def. No. 2 Karras/Penrod, AF 6-3, 6-4
2nd Doubles Semifinals
No. 1 Adam Smith/Cache Dowdle, Lone Peak def. No. 5 Franklyn Mortensen/Tucker Brown, Bingham 6-0, 6-2
No. 2 Jaden Peck/Brandon Poulsen, Skyridge def. No. 3 Dillon Johnson/James Horne, AF 6-3, 6-3
2nd Doubles Finals
No. 2 Peck/Poulsen, Skyridge def. Smith/Dowdle, Lone Peak 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (9-7)
4A Championships at Liberty Park
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Team Scores: Desert Hills 57, Crimson Cliffs 36, Orem 36, Jordan 21, Ridgeline 18, Park City 18.
1st Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Adam Miner, Crimson Cliffs def. No. 4 Brexan Wittwer, Desert Hills 6-1, 6-2
No. 2 Dillon Johnson, Ridgeline def. No. 3 JT Buxton, Jordan 6-2, 6-0
1st Singles Finals
No. 1 Adam Miller, Crimson Cliffs def. No. 2 Dillon Johnson, Ridgeline 4-6, 6-1, 6-0
2nd Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Julian Laarmann, Jordan def. No. 4 Hayden Owen, Crimson Cliffs 6-3, 6-4
No 3 Thomas Rogowski, Park City def. No. 2 Brenan Holman, Desert Hills 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 6-0
2nd Singles Finals
No. 1 Julian Laarmann, Jordan def. No. 3 Thomas Rogowski, Park City 6-3, 6-0
3rd Singles Semifinals
No. 1 Matthew White, Desert Hills def. No. 4 Nate Edwards, Provo 6-4, 6-3
No. 2 Grant Shelley, Orem def. No. 3 Tanner Matheson, Crimson Cliffs 6-4, 7-6 (7-5)
3rd Singles Finals
No. 1 Matthew White, Desert Hills def. No. 2 Grant Shelley, Orem 6-0, 6-4
1st Doubles Semifinals
No. 1 William Gardner/Tyson Wilkins, Desert Hills def. No. 4 Caleb Schmitt/Mason Hardman, Pine View 6-0, 6-3
No. 3 Kaleb Knapp/Kade Inouye, Orem def. No. 2 Harith Sathish/Jaden Ngo, Hillcrest 7-6 (7-3), 6-0
1st Doubles Finals
No. 1 Gardner/Wilkins, Desert Hills def. No. 3 Knapp/Inouye, Orem 6-4, 6-0
2nd Doubles Semifinals
No. 1 Ethan Phelps/M
cKay Soliai, Desert Hills def. No. 4 Khakural/Kandukuri, Hillcrest 6-2, 6-3
No. 2 Kyle Davidson/Steele Dayton, Orem def. No. 3 Connor Hoff/Noah Hoff, Crimson Cliffs 6-3, 6-1
2nd Doubles Finals
No. 1 Phelps/Solai, Desert Hills def. Davison/Dayton, Orem 6-3, 6-2
