COLLEGE STATION, Texas — To win the school’s fourth consecutive team tennis state championship, Highland Park coach Dan Holden knew his team would have to go through a tough boys team from Austin Lake Travis.
He figured it would be important to win two of the three boys doubles matches and get off to a good start. And that’s what the Scots did.
“Lucky for us,” Holden said, “they didn’t recover.”
Highland Park led, 5-2, after the doubles matches then ran away with the singles to win the 4A title match, 10-5. Highland Park finished 25-0 and completed its second run of four straight state titles.
“What feels even better,” Holden said, “is that this is No. 13 total for the program, so that puts us up there as far as winning the most in the state of Texas.”
It was the first time Lake Travis (18-2) had made it to the state tournament, and a lack of experience may have weighed on the team from Austin.
“We were dead even,” Holden said. “I knew those matches were going to be close. I thought that we had an advantage going in because we have been playing for the state title, and it’s their first time.”
The Scots flexed their muscles by defeating Lake Travis in four out of the six girls singles matches to complete the perfect season. Sophomore John Mee won his singles match against Austin Mayo of Lake Travis in two sets to give Highland Park the team victory, sending each member of the team storming the court.
Mee, along with junior Luke Stainback, had a strong performance in the boys doubles to give Highland Park the early lead as the two defeated Lake Travis’ Sam Ludon and Oliver Seifert.
“I’m just proud of them,” Holden said. “We have lofty goals each year, and we are under a lot of pressure every year as a team. We are expected to win a state title before the season even starts.
“These kids they don’t wilt, they don’t run away from it. They dive into the pressure, and we feel like this is our time of the year.”
UIL TEAM TENNIS STATE TOURNAMENT
(at Texas A&M's George P. Mitchell Tennis Center)
SATURDAY'S FINAL RESULTS
CLASS 5A
New Braunfels def. Houston Memorial, 10-5
CLASS 4A
Highland Park def. Austin Lake Travis, 10-5
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
Highland Park 10, Austin Lake Travis 5
BOYS SINGLES
John Mee (HP) def. Austin Mayo, 6-3, 6-4
Oliver Seifert (LT) def. Luke Stainback, 6-0, 7-6 (4)
GIRLS SINGLES
Brittany Brewster (LT) def. Kristen Mee, 6-2, 6-0
Melanie Marlin (HP) def. Ryan Brown, 6-1, 6-2
Sarah Cannon (HP) def. Courtney Schulte, 6-1, 6-2
Remi Immler (LT) def. Kristen Adams, 6-1, 2-6, 6-4
Maddie Gordon (HP) def. Hunyeh Hoghooghi, 6-1, 6-1
Margo Taylor (HP) def. Bailey Meyer, 6-0, 6-2
BOYS DOUBLES
John Mee and Luke Stainback (HP) def. Sam Laudon and Oliver Seifert, 6-2, 6-4
Jaxon Immler and Austin Mayo (LT) def. Avery Schober and John Daeske, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Connor LaFavre and Nicolas Elwood (HP) def. Tristan Wise and Nick Ruzicka, 6-0, 7-6 (2)
GIRLS DOUBLES
Melanie Marlin and Sarah Cannon (HP) def. Ryan Brown and Courtney Schulte, 7-6 (4), 6-3
Kristin Mee and Kristen Adams (HP) def. Lauren Schulte and Hunyeh Hoghooghi, 6-2, 6-2
Alin Piranian and Maddie Gordon (HP) def. Bailey Meyer and Remi Immler, 6-3, 6-2
MIXED DOUBLES
Brittany Brewster and Adam Dokos (LT) def. Hunter Holman and Margo Taylor, 7-5, 1-6, 6-3