By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Topeka West Class 5A state doubles champions Ian and Miles Cusick headline the 2022 All-City boys tennis team, which includes 12 out of 12 state qualifiers and nine state medalists.
The 2022 All-City boys tennis team -- Front, from left: Carter Cool, Topeka West; James Maag, Topeka West; Mason Casebeer, Washburn Rural; Mason Thieu, Washburn Rural; Gus Glotzbach, Hayden; Michael Sandstrom, Hayden. Back, from left: Gavin Chavez, Topeka West; Miles Cusick, Topeka West; Ian Cusick, Topeka West; Jaden Rodriguez, Shawnee Heights; Kyler Knudtson, Washburn Rural; Nick Luetje, Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
The Cusick twins captured the state championship with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Maize South's Grayson Wright and Mitchell Krumm, capping a 37-4 season after sweeping city, Centennial League and 5A regional titles for a second straight season. Ian and Miles finished ninth in the 5A state meet as sophomores before dominating last weekend's state tournament with four straight two-set victories.
Topeka West, which finished second as a team in the state meet, is also represented on the All-City team by sixth-place 5A doubles finishers Gavin Chavez and Carter Cool and sophomore singles player James Maag.
Washburn Rural, which shared the city team title with West before winning Centennial League and regional championships, put city, league and 6A regional champ and state placer Mason Thieu on the All-City team along with state doubles placers Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje and state singles qualifier Mason Casebeer.
Hayden's Michael Sandstrom and Gus Glotabach are All-City returners after finishing second in doubles in the 4A state tournament for the second straight season, helping the Wildcats earn a 4A team trophy with a third-place finish.
Also earning a spot on the All-City team for the second straight season was Shawnee Heights senior Jaden Rodriguez, a 5A state qualifier in singles.
All-City tennis capsules:
MASON CASEBEER, Washburn Rural -- A junior, Casebeer was the city champion in No. 2 singles, finished third in singles in the Centennial League meet and was a regional runnerup to earn his second straight 6A state tournament berth. As a sophomore, Casebeer teamed with Nick Luetje to post a 12th-place state doubles finish.
GAVIN CHAVEZ, Topeka West -- Chavez, a senior, teamed with Carter Cool to post a sixth-place doubles finish in the 5A state tournament, helping West finish second as a team. Chavez and Cool were the city champions in No. 2 doubles and finished second in doubles in the Centennia League and 5A regional tournaments.
CARTER COOL, Topeka West -- Cool, a junior, teamed with Chavez to finish sixth in doubles in the 5A state tournament, helping the Chargers finish second as a team. Cool and Chavez were the city champions in No. 2 doubles and finished second in doubles in the Centennia League and 5A regional tournaments. As a sophomore Cool claimed the city No. 1 singles title and a 5A regional singles championship.
IAN CUSICK, Topeka West -- A junior, Cusick teamed with his twin brother Miles to win the 5A state doubles championship, completing a sweep of city, Centennial League, regional and state doubles titles. West won the co-team title in the city meet and won a regional team title before finishing second as a team at state. The Cusicks won city, league and regional championships for a second straight season and earned their second state medal, finishing ninth as sophomores.
MILES CUSICK, Topeka West -- Cusick teamed with junior twin brother Ian to win the 5A state doubles title after earlier sweeping city, Centennial League and regional championships. The Cusicks helped West win the co-team title in the city meet and won a regional team title before finishing second as a team at state. The Cusicks won city, league and regional championships for a second straight season and earned their second state medal, finishing ninth as sophomores.
GUS GLOTZBACH, Hayden -- A junior, Glotzbach teamed with senior Michael Sandstrom to finish second in the 4A state tournament in doubles for a second straight season, leading the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. Glotzbach and Sandstrom were also regional champs for a second straight season and placed third in the city meet in No. 1 doubles and third in Centennial League doubles.
KYLER KNUDTSON, Washburn Rural -- Knudtson capped his senior season with an 11th-place finish in 6A doubles with Nick Luetje, earning his second straight state medal. Knudtson and Luetje placed second in No. 1 doubles in the city tournament, were fourth in Centennial League doubles and won a 6A regional title. Knudtson finished 11th in 6A singles as a junior.
NICK LUETJE, Washburn Rural -- The Rural senior earned a second straight 6A state medal, teaming with Knudtson for an 11th-place finish in 6A doubles. Luetje and Knudtson were second in No. 1 doubles in the city tournament, were fourth in Centennial League doubles and won a 6A regional title. As a junior Luetje teamed with Casebeer to earn a 6A state doubles medal with a 12th-place finish.
JAMES MAAG, Topeka West -- A sophomore, Maag earned his spot on the All-City team with a runner-up finish in No 1 singles in the city tournament. Maag finished fourth in singles in the Centennial League tournament and earned a 5A state berth with a runner-up singles finish in regional competition. Maag won a match in last week's 5A state meet.
JADEN RODRIGUEZ, Shawnee Heights -- Rodriguez, a senior, earned a berth on the All-City team for the second straight season, finishing third in No. 1 singles. Rodriguez earned a 5A state tournament berth in singles for the second straight year with a fourth-place regional finish. Rodriguez won a match in last week's state tournament.
MICHAEL SANDSTROM, Hayden -- A senior three-time state medalist, Sandstrom teamed with Glotzbach to finish second in the 4A state tournament in doubles for a second straight season, leading the Wildcats to a third-place team finish. Sandstrom and Glotzbach were also regional champs for a second straight season and placed third in the city meet in No. 1 doubles and third in Centennial League doubles.
MASON THIEU, Washburn Rural -- The Junior Blue senior swept city, Centennial League and 6A regional singles championships, helping lead Washburn Rural to a co-city team title and Centennial League and regional team championships. Thieu earned his second 6A state medal with a 12th-place state singles finish despite being forced to default his final three matches of the state meet.
