3A Tennis: Boulder City boys, Meadows girls win titles

Boulder City boys tennis coach Rachelle Huxford fought back tears as she addressed the Eagles on Thursday morning.

Tears of joy, that is, after a dramatic 10-8 victory over The Meadows in the Class 3A Southern Region final.

Boulder City’s doubles team of Karson Bailey and Tanner Montgomery gutted out a 7-5 victory over Ahmed Nadeem-Tariq and Peyton Sachs in last match of the day.

Bailey and Montgomery jumped for joy, and were joined by their teammates on one of the courts at the Darling Tennis Center.

“Words can’t express to you what I’m feeling right now,” a teary-eyed Huxford said. “As a coach, I can’t be more proud of the effort we had today.”

Connor Mikkelson went 3-0 in singles for Boulder City and Andre Pappas went 2-1. The Eagles’ doubles team of Preston Jorgensen and Boen Huxford posted a 3-0 record as well to set the stage for Bailey and Montgomery.

“My singles struggled today. It would just be amazing if I could get my singles players and my doubles players to be on at the same day,” Huxford said. “We’re going to practice, have a good time and enjoy what we have left of the tennis season.

Girls

When it comes to small-school tennis in Southern Nevada, The Meadows’ girls have been in a class of their own for nearly a decade.

But fifth-year coach Frideric Prandecki still, periodically, heeds those nightmare situations.

“You just don’t want to wake up one day and not win it,” Prandecki said. “That’s the scary part. … You don’t want to be caught with a good team.”

That wasn’t a problem Thursday.

Three doubles teams finished 2-0, and the Mustangs used multiple substitutions in their 13-5 win over Boulder City in the Class 3A Southern Region final at Darling Tennis Center.

It was the third consecutive region championship, and sixth title in eight seasons for The Meadows (15-1).

“Throughout the year, we always make sure to get everyone involved,” Prandecki said. “It’s important for them to get a little taste. When (underclassmen) become seniors, they’re going to have to carry the torch … and they’re going to be ready to do it.”

The Mustangs’ doubles teams of Elena Paradiso and Shayna Indyg, Grace Nemec and Peyton Barcel, and Claire Strimling and Isabella Monroe each went 2-0. Audrey Grigore, Olivia Waysack and Lindsey Hofflander were each 2-1 in singles for The Meadows.

Olivia Mikkelson went 3-0 in singles for Boulder City (16-2).