DIVISION I TENNIS: Bailey’s tiebreaker win locks up boys title for Gorman
Bishop Gorman sophomore Aaron Bailey didn't want to know the score at any point during his team's state championship match against Palo Verde on Friday.
He certainly didn't want to know the score of the team tiebreaker when players, coaches and fans surrounded his court.
But when Bailey won his tiebreaker over the Panthers' Ethan Ballard, he saw a wave of teammates running toward him ... and knew.
Bailey won the final tiebreaker and helped the Gaels secure their first boys tennis title since 1990 with a 10-9 win over the Panthers in the Division I state final at Darling Tennis Center.
"I didn't know, and I didn't want to know," Bailey said. "I just wanted to win for my team. I never wanted to know the score the entire day. I wasn't sure if we would win, but I believe in my teammates, and I know how hard they work."
The Gaels played catch-up most of the day after falling behind 4-2 in the first round, but after rallying to force the tiebreaker, wins by Sam Sholeff in singles and the teams of Cole Davidson and Lucas Hammond, and Michael Connors and Jack Silvestri put Gorman up 3-2 in the tiebreaker.
Bailey's win sealed the victory and touched off the celebration.
"That was awesome, like it was out of a movie," Bailey said. "I wasn't satisfied with just making it this far. It's awesome that we're the first team in 25 years and the first team this century to win."
The Panthers swept the first round of doubles and grabbed the 4-2 lead. A narrow win by Davis Waid and Brandon Sulzberg in the final doubles set of the second round allowed Palo Verde to keep a 7-5 lead.
"We knew it was still there for the taking," Gorman coach Craig Witcher said.
Wins by Palo Verde's Dylan Levitt in singles and Mike Safbom and Sam Soderborg in doubles — offset by wins by Cole Davidson and Hammond, and Skylar Hammond and Grant Rogers — made it 9-7, but Gorman's Sholeff and Daniel Kinas pulled out victories in the final two singles sets to force the team tiebreaker.
"Once we fell behind, we had to get three points in the second round, and the only opening to get four points was in the last round," Witcher said. "The tiebreaker situation, you feel like you have a reprieve. My guys were just pumped. The momentum we got just carried over."
Bailey, Sholeff and Kinas each went 2-1 in singles, and Cole Davidson and Hammond were 2-1 in doubles for Gorman (15-1).
Levitt and the doubles team of Safbom and Sulzberg both went 3-0 for Palo Verde (11-3), which was bidding for its second straight title. Waid and Sulzberg were 2-1 in doubles.
GIRLS
Kristen Newell was all smiles during the final few points of her third-round singles set Friday.
The Palo Verde senior enjoyed a group hug moments later when she won her team's clinching 10th point.
Newell went 3-0 as part of a singles sweep for the Panthers, who won their second straight state title with a 14-4 victory over Bishop Gorman.
"I'm so glad I'm a part of this team," said Newell, who last year helped the Panthers win their first crown since 2004. "We have so many good players, and we're so strong. Gorman gave us a run for our money. They're a good team."
Palo Verde led 9-2 with one second-round doubles match still in progress when Newell cashed in on her fourth set point against Gorman's Steff Ingaramo.
"We all just came together," Newell said. "It's a really good group of people. We get along, and our starters are all pretty much the same level. We're just a good team."
The Panthers, who fell to Gorman in the Sunset Region final Oct. 9, ran away with a match most expected to be close. The Gaels stacked their doubles lineup in hopes of forcing a team tiebreaker, but when Palo Verde's Isabella Shelton and Abby Lewis won a first-round doubles set, Palo Verde (14-1) seized control.
"The confidence level was amazingly high today," Palo Verde coach Zach Brandt said. "Getting that one win in doubles in the first round was big, and then everyone was just more relaxed."
Chloe Henderson and Sophie Henderson joined Newell in going 3-0 in singles.
The teams of Shelton and Lewis, and Annie Walker and Alissa Till each went 2-1 for Palo Verde.
"There were no nerves that came into play at all for them today," Brandt said. "It was like a regular day at the office."
Emma Figuredo and Angelique Friedrich were 3-0 in doubles for Gorman (12-3).
Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.
