CHAMPIONS ... BV North won the singles and doubles competition at the Class 6A state tournament in Goddard. The champions are (from left) Jack Sock, singles champion, and doubles champions Hank Lee and Eric Sock.
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Mustangs sweep singles, doubles at Class 6A state tennis
BY: Charles Redfield, Associate Sports Editor
credfield@sunpublications.com
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Chalk up a sweep of singles and doubles at the Class 6A state high school boys tennis tournament for the Blue Valley North Mustangs.
Freshman Jack Sock had an easy time winning the singles title and junior brother Eric Sock and senior Hank Lee won the doubles title.
Jack got started late in high school tennis. He did not join the Mustangs team until the middle of April. On April 13, he won 16 singles title at the Easter Bowl, United States Tennis Association Spring National Championships.
At the state tournament in Goddard, he did not lose a set in winning the state singles title.
However, he did not have an easy road to victory. He beat Cole Marceau of Goddard, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.
Then he had to face 2006 champion J.T. Christian of Olathe Northwest in the quarterfinals on Friday.
“I knew I had to play my game, an all-court game and attack when possible to beat him,” Jack said.
He won 6-2, 6-2.
Then came BV West sophomore Max Helgeson in the semifinals Saturday morning.
“I played very well and did not make any errors,” he said.
He captured the match, 6-0, 6-0.
Helgeson finished fourth in singles.
In the championship match with Kevin Moore of Shawnee Mission North, Jack won, 6-1, 6-2. Moore placed second last year at state.
“I played well and came out on top,” Sock said.
Jack won the state title losing just seven games and finished the high school season with a record of 17-0. He did not lose a set in league, regional or state play.
“It was good to win a state title in my first year,” he said. “It felt really good. It was very exciting to win along with my brother and his partner winning (doubles).”
Next up for the freshman will be national and Missouri Valley junior tournaments. He is ranked by the USTA as No. 8 in 16 boys singles.
He wants to play in some International Tennis Federation tournaments this summer. He is looking to play in an event Oct. 6-12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“That will help get my ranking up,” he said.
Brother Eric and Hank Lee did not have a lot of trouble winning the doubles championship.
They beat Ramon Nola and Matt Van Horn of Goddard, 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals.
Then in the finals, they defeated the SM East duo of Jack Peterson and P.J. Guignon, 6-1, 6-2 for the championship. They finished the season with a 26-1 record.
“It was awesome winning,” Eric said. “I had a lot of fun playing with Lee. We have a great friendship and team chemistry.”
The pair played dominant tennis at state, not losing a set.
“This meant a lot to Hank, my partner, because he is a senior,” Eric said. “We were focused and determined.”
In 5A play in Wichita, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Phil Shinn placed eighth in singles.
Freshman Jack Sock had an easy time winning the singles title and junior brother Eric Sock and senior Hank Lee won the doubles title.
Jack got started late in high school tennis. He did not join the Mustangs team until the middle of April. On April 13, he won 16 singles title at the Easter Bowl, United States Tennis Association Spring National Championships.
At the state tournament in Goddard, he did not lose a set in winning the state singles title.
However, he did not have an easy road to victory. He beat Cole Marceau of Goddard, 6-0, 6-0 in the first round.
Then he had to face 2006 champion J.T. Christian of Olathe Northwest in the quarterfinals on Friday.
“I knew I had to play my game, an all-court game and attack when possible to beat him,” Jack said.
He won 6-2, 6-2.
Then came BV West sophomore Max Helgeson in the semifinals Saturday morning.
“I played very well and did not make any errors,” he said.
He captured the match, 6-0, 6-0.
Helgeson finished fourth in singles.
In the championship match with Kevin Moore of Shawnee Mission North, Jack won, 6-1, 6-2. Moore placed second last year at state.
“I played well and came out on top,” Sock said.
Jack won the state title losing just seven games and finished the high school season with a record of 17-0. He did not lose a set in league, regional or state play.
“It was good to win a state title in my first year,” he said. “It felt really good. It was very exciting to win along with my brother and his partner winning (doubles).”
Next up for the freshman will be national and Missouri Valley junior tournaments. He is ranked by the USTA as No. 8 in 16 boys singles.
He wants to play in some International Tennis Federation tournaments this summer. He is looking to play in an event Oct. 6-12 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
“That will help get my ranking up,” he said.
Brother Eric and Hank Lee did not have a lot of trouble winning the doubles championship.
They beat Ramon Nola and Matt Van Horn of Goddard, 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinals.
Then in the finals, they defeated the SM East duo of Jack Peterson and P.J. Guignon, 6-1, 6-2 for the championship. They finished the season with a 26-1 record.
“It was awesome winning,” Eric said. “I had a lot of fun playing with Lee. We have a great friendship and team chemistry.”
The pair played dominant tennis at state, not losing a set.
“This meant a lot to Hank, my partner, because he is a senior,” Eric said. “We were focused and determined.”
In 5A play in Wichita, St. Thomas Aquinas’ Phil Shinn placed eighth in singles.