Williams-Aikens No. 1, CAK team is runner-up
MURFREESBORO — Webb School of Knoxville’s boys tennis team made its usual late-May trip to the Spring Fling last week.
And as usual, the Spartans left the Midstate with some championship medals.
Webb (13-5) won its third consecutive Division II-A state team championship when it outlasted Cedar Bluff area rival Christian Academy of Knoxville 4-2 Wednesday, May 22, at Old Fort Park’s Adams Tennis Complex.
The Spartans darted out to a 3-0 lead thanks to singles victories by Harrison Williams, Ben Aikens and Austin Rhea.
At No. 2 singles, Williams downed CAK’s Cole McDaniel 6-2, 6-0. Aikens won at No. 4 when he defeated James Webster 6-2, 6-0. At No. 6 singles, Rhea downed Austin Dunn 6-3, 6-1.
CAK (10-5) won No. 1 singles when Reed Bristow outlasted Ohm Sharma 6-7, 6-3, 6-3.
The Warriors also claimed a win in the No. 3 slot when Davis Brady defeated Spartans eighth-grader Wilder Dewhirst 2-6, 6-3, 6-1, forcing the match to be determined by doubles completion where Dewhirst and Sharma recovered to take down McDaniel and Webster 8-3.
It was Webb’s eighth title in 10 seasons.
The Spartans advanced to the championship match with a 4-0 victory over Notre Dame.
Williams, Dewhirst, Aikens and Rhea picked up singles victories over the Irish Tuesday, May 21.
The Warriors also won in the semis as they outlasted St. George’s.
McDaniel, Brady and Dunn posted singles victories. McDaniel and Webster won in doubles.
After winning the team title, the Spartans were far from finished.
Williams and Aikens won a state doubles title on a hot early Friday afternoon, May 24, when they beat Brady and McDaniel in straight sets, 6-2, 6-0.
“This was special because Ben is a senior,” Williams said. “I won a singles title as a freshman and that was cool too. But it was really nice to win a team title and to help Ben go out on top.
“We beat that team from CAK and they’re pretty good.”
“It was great to win this because it was my last high school match,” Aikens said. “Harrison is the best doubles partner I could ask for. He’s been a great partner for the last three years.”
Sharma reached the state singles semifinals before falling to eventual runner-up Nathan Irwin of Christ Presbyterian Academy.
Bristow qualified for the Warriors. but lost to St. George’s Walker Stearns in the quarterfinals.
“Every team is new and every team is different,” said longtime Webb head coach Jimmy Pitkanen Pitkanen, who’s coached both the Spartans and Lady Spartans for more than two decades.
“We’ve already named our captains for next year. After we finish here, we’ll start working towards 2020,” he added. “We’ll begin on Memorial Day and that’s the kids’ choice. They work hard and practice all year around.”
Clem in Division I
Knoxville Catholic High School junior Davis Clem competed in Division I Large School. He won a quarterfinal match before falling in the second round to Nathan Zao of Murfreesboro Central.
