By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Obviously, both Topeka West and Washburn Rural would have loved to have the 2022 city boys tennis championship all to itself.
But West coach Kurt Davids and Rural coach Kevin Hedberg had a strong inkling that Thursday's tournament at Kossover Tennis Center would turn out exactly like it did, with the Chargers and Junior Blues finishing the day as co-city champions.
Washburn Rural senior Mason Thieu won the city No. 1 singles title Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center, helping Rural win a share of the city team title. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Topeka West's Ian Cusick (left) and twin brother Miles won their second straight No. 1 city doubles title Thursday, helping West share the city team title with Washburn Rural. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
West and Rural went one-two in all four divisions, winning two titles apiece, as both teams finished with 28 points. Shawnee Heights finished third as a team with 18 points.
"Kevin and I had talked about this and it went exacly as both of us had expected,'' said Davids, whose Chargers won their second straight city title. "We both had wishes for other things to happen, but we knew what was probably going to happen.''
Hedberg, who was coaching in his final city meet, agreed.
"(Kurt) and I were talking last night and we figured out we had three options,'' said Hedberg, who will retire at the end of the season. "One of us was going to win by one or we were going to tie.''
Topeka West's tennis team poses for a team picture after sharing the city team championship with Washburn Rural Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural's tennis team poses for a picture after sharing the city team championship with Topeka West Thursday at Kossover Tennis Center. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
Washburn Rural claimed both singles titles, with senior Mason Thieu taking an 8-2 win over Topeka West's sophomore James Maag in the No. 1 final and senior Mason Casebeer taking an 8-1 win over West sophomore Caden McGee in the No. 2 championship match.
Topeka West turned the tables in doubles competition, with juniors Ian and Miles Cusick claiming the No. 1 championship with an 8-1 win over Washburn Rural's Kyler Knudtson and Nick Luetje and junior Carter Cool and senior Gavin Chavez taking the No. 2 title with an 8-3 win over Rural seniors Kiyoon Park and Zach Willingham.
Thieu, who won his first city title after finishinng second as a freshman in his only other city meet, wasn't particularly pleased with the way he played on Thursday, but was happy to take the win and move on. The Centennial League meet is on tap Monday at Emporia, followed by Class 6A regional and state competition.
"I wasn't playing too well, but I got it done and that's what's important,'' Thieu said. "I've been playing better every match up until this tournament so I feel pretty good going into the last stretch.''
The Cusick twins captured their second straight city championship, continuing their lastseason run.
"I think our goal was just to play solid tennis, and I think we did that pretty well,'' Miles Cusick said. "Our coach told us we didn't need to hit anything gigantic, we didn't have to smack winners, we just had to put balls in the court and I think that's what we did and I think we were successful in doing that.''
Ian Cusick was also pleased with how he and his brother played in the city meet.
"I think we've been on a winning streak for three or four tournaments now so right now it's just keep winning and maybe we won't stop here,'' Ian Cusick said. "I thought we played really well.''
Jaden Rodriguez finished third in No. 1 singles to help Shawnee Heights finish third as a team while Hayden senior Michael Sandstrom and junior Gus Glotzbach finished third in No. 1 doubles as the the Wildcats tied Seaman for fourth in the team standings.
Topeka City Boys Tennis Championships
Team scores
Topeka West 28, Washburn Rural 28, Shawnee Heights 18, Hayden 15, Seaman 15, Topeka High 6, Highland Park 4.
Individual results
Singles
No. 1 -- Championship: Thieu, Washburn Rural, def. Maag, Topeka West, 8-2. Consolation: Riodriguez, Shawnee Heights, def. Kruse, Seaman, 8-7 (7-0).
No. 2 -- Championship: Casebeer, Washburn Rural, def. McGee, Topeka West, 8-1. Consolation: Wagnon, Seaman, def, Giron, Shawnee Heights, 8-6.
Doubles
No. 1 -- Championship: I. Cusick/M. Cusick, Topeka West, def. Knudtson/Luetje, Washburn Rural, 8-1. Consolation: Sandstrom/Glotzbach, Hayden, def. Johnson/Johnson, Shawnee Heights, 8-5.
No. 2 -- Championship: Cool/Chavez, Topeka West, def. Park/Willingham, Washburn Rural, 8-3. Consolation: Bell/Emmons, Shawnee Heights, def. Gorman/Luke, Hayden, 8-7 (9-7).
