The Grand County Red Devil boys tennis team captured the 2A Southern Division Championship on Friday, May 1. Senior Elijah Stock in No. 1 singles, sophomore Nolan Beeman in No. 2 singles and senior Alec Tatton in No. 3 singles each won individual region titles at the tournament, which took place in both Richfield and Monroe.
Stock was the No. 1 seed in the region tournament, earning a first-round bye. In the second round, he defeated Manti’s Braxton Good 7-5, 6-3. He then faced Wasatch Academy sophomore Lucas Nguyen in the championship match, winning 6-3, 6-4.
Stock, who has advanced to the state semifinals in his singles division each of the past two seasons, has a strong chance to make it to the finals and perhaps win the state title this year, coach Ed DeFrancia said.
“I’m hoping he can get to the finals this year,” DeFrancia said. “…This year as a No. 1 seed, he’s got a much easier route through the tournament. He won’t see the other No. 1 seed until the finals.”
Beeman also had a first-round bye in the division championship before beating Manti’s Davis Hardy 6-3, 6-2 in the second round and beating Wasatch Academy’s Lucas Hafner 6-3, 6-1 in the championship match.
“Nolan was very much in control in both of his matches,” DeFrancia said. “I feel like he’s got a good chance to make it to the finals if he is able to keep his emotions under control. The state tournament is a different level of emotion” than he’s seen on a tennis court.
The surprise of the division championship was senior Alec Tatton, who has had an up-and-down season in No. 3 singles, struggling with confidence and consistency. Tatton had no problems on Friday, however, beating a player from South Sevier 6-0, 6-0 in the first round, beating San Juan’s William Heck 6-2, 6-1 in the second round, and beating Wasatch Academy’s Hoang Nguyen 6-4, 6-1 in the finals.
“Alec played extremely well,” DeFrancia said. “He dominated all the way through. He played well, he played smart. He just played his game and it was great to see.”
The Red Devil tandem of junior Derek Johnson and freshman Elton Jones also had a run of strong play to advance to the division title match in No. 2 doubles, but ran out of gas at the end versus San Juan’s duo of Spencer Mitchell and Grange Simpson, and the Broncos won 6-0, 2-6, 7-6 (7-5). The No. 1 doubles team of senior Mack Sherrill and junior Tommy DeWitt lost its first round match versus San Juan seniors Kesian Barton and Kade Palmer before playing them again for fourth place and a berth in the state tournament, where Barton and Palmer were again victorious, ending the season for Sherrill and DeWitt.
DeFrancia said he believes the Red Devils have a shot at the state championship if everyone plays to their capabilities.
“It’s possible for us to win the title if these guys play as well as they can,” he said. “Play well and have fun, and everything will take care of itself.”
The state championships are scheduled to take place Saturday, May 9, beginning at 8 a.m. at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.
Stock, Beeman, Tatton look to parlay region crowns into state championships
“Alec (Tatton) played extremely well. He dominated all the way through. He played well, he played smart. He just played his game and it was great to see.” – Grand boys tennis coach Ed DeFrancia, on senior Alec Tatton, 2A Southern Division No. 3 singles champion
The state championships are scheduled to take place Saturday, May 9, beginning at 8 a.m. at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City.
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