High school girls' tennis: Lone Peak picks up coveted 5A crown

SALT LAKE CITY— It was Lone Peak that led the pack after Wednesday's first round of competition, and the defending state co-champions fended of Davis to claim sole possession of the 5A girls tennis crown Saturday.

"It's a great feeling, but I'm just happiest for the girls," said the Lone Peak head coach John LaCognata. "They've worked really hard all year long and have been focused. They deserve all of the credit."

Freshman Morgan Hall clinched the team title in the third singles championship, getting the best of Davis freshman Jensen Emery in a 6-4, 6-3 result. It was the first of possibly many championships for the Lone Peak underclassman.

"I was just so nervous and exited at the same time about if I could win an individual championship as a freshman," said Hall.

Breezy Turley was the first player of the day to be crowned champion when the Darts' sophomore cruised past Lone Peak freshmen Leah Heimuli for a second consecutive title at No. 2 singles. It would be the only individual title that second-place Davis took away from the 2012 tournament.

"I feel amazing," said Turley after the championship match. "Two years in a row ... I just can't even explain the feeling right now. Whatever happens, happens. And our goal is to mostly have fun and work together."

Taylor Calton found redemption in the semifinals when the Lone Peak product bested Cottonwood junior Katie Sweet in a 6-0, 6-3 decision.

Calton then went on to defeat Alta junior Emily Taylor in a tight 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 contest for the No. 1 singles crown.

Lone Peak padded its cushion at the top of the team scores when Megan Call and Electra Cochran survived a three-set battle for a 6-0, 6-7 (7-4), 7-2 victory over the Davis duo of Kendall Sargent and Kira Sparks to take the first doubles crown.

Bingham managed to battle through the competition for a third-place finish and secured 11 points when Molly Reeder and Jean Noh outlasted Haley Schettler and Lauren Allen of Lone Peak 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 for the second doubles title.

When it was all said and done, the Lone Peak head coach mentioned that it was a welcome surprise to see his girls exceed expectations and become the state champions of 5A.

"This morning I thought we had a chance to get all five into the finals," he said, "and was really thrilled that all these underclassmen that haven't been here before really came through."

Email: cjohnson@desnews.com

5A Tennis

At Liberty Park

Championship

TEAM SCORES

1. Lone Peak 26; 2. Davis 17; 3. Bingham 11; 4. Alta 9; 5. Cottonwood 9; 6. Pleasant Grove 4; 6. Viewmont 4; 6. West 4; 9 Layton 2; 9. Syracuse 2; 11.. Fremont; 11. Hunter; 11. Northridge; 11. Weber.

SEMIFINALS

1st Singles

Emily Tanner, Alta, def. Brooke Burnside, West, 7-5 4-6, 6-2; Taylor Calton, Lone Peak, def. Katie Sweet, Cottonwood, 6-0, 6-3.

2nd Singles

Breezy Turley, Davis, def. Sophie Sorhaitz, Pleasant Grove 6-1, 6-2; Leah Heimuli, Lone Peak, def. Sarah Sturt, Cottonwood, 7-5, 6-4.

3rd Singles

Jensen Emery, Davis, def. Ally Cowdell, Bingham, 6-2, 6-0; Morgan Hall, Lone Peak, def. Mariah Petersen, Alta, 6-4, 6-3.

1st Doubles