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SALT LAKE CITY — For more than a decade, Highland's boys tennis team has watched another team lift the state championship trophy — often times, one of its region rivals Skyline or Brighton.
Saturday was the Rams' turn.
Kian Noori Claro won the second singles title, and Highland added two runner-up singles finishes as the Rams clinched their first boys tennis championship since 2011 by one point over Brighton.
Oliver Mesicek made the finals in first singles before falling to Viewmont's Nate Tullis, 7-6, 6-3. Timo Van Beaurden added a runner-up stop in third singles before falling to Timpview's Braden Meier, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.
But Claro's 6-2, 6-4 breakthrough against Woods Cross' Drew Bergeson gave Highland just enough to hold off Brighton, 44-43. Timpview (3-1), Olympus (27) and Viewmont (25) also finished in the top five.
5A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park
First singles
Semifinals
- Nate Tullis, Viewmont, d. Tai Jensen, Skyline, 6-3, 6-2
- Oliver Mesicek, Highland, d. Ford Owen, Brighton, 6-2, 6-3
Championship
- Tullis, Viewmont, d. Mesicek, Highland, 7-6, 6-3.
Second singles
Semifinals
- Drew Bergeson, Woods Cross, d. Michael Tullis, Viewmont, 6-0, 6-1
- Kian Noori Claro, Highland, d. Owen Hopkin, Brighton, 7-6, 6-1
Championship
- Claro, Highland, d. Bergeson, Woods Cross, 6-2-6-3
Third singles
Semifinals
- Timo Van Beurden, Highland, d. Vin Jansen, Skyline, 3-6, 6-0, 6-2
- Braden Meier, Timpview, d. Cameron Grass, Brighton, 2-6, 6-2, 7-5
Championship
- Meier, Timpview, d. Van Beurden, Highland, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
First doubles
Semifinals
- Jakob Fankhauser and Yaroslav, Sumtsov, Olympus, d. Joe Jurca and Luke Clark, Timpview
- James Covey and Henry Owen, Brighton, d. Griffin Schroeder and Will CAllister, Alta
Championship
- Fankhauser/Sumtsov, Olympus, d. Covey/Owen, Brighton, 6-1, 6-0
Second doubles
Semifinals
- Stephen Morgan and Owen Linthorst, Olympus, d. Ilario Noyes and Jonah Watt, Highland, 3-6, 7-5, 6-2
- Maxwell Pohlman and Jacob Ballstaedt, Brighton, d. Davis Gunnell and Daniel Beutler, Timpview, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3
Championship
- Pohlman/Ballstaedt, Brighton, d. Morgan/Linthorst, Olympus, 0-6, 6-1, 6-2
