It's going to be very tough for other Idaho 3A schools to dethrone The Community School when the State 3A tennis tournament is staged Friday and Saturday, May 19-20 at Timberline High in Boise.
The Cutthroats have won four state tennis championships in five years and are showing no signs of letting up.
Coach Phil Huss' Sun Valley powerhouse has qualified all 18 of its varsity players for this weekend's state tournament.
"It's a testament to their hard work during the season, off-season training and talent," Huss said.
Friday, the Cutthroats tucked away their eighth district tournament championship in nine years with an overwhelming team win over Gooding and Sugar-Salem of Sugar City at Sun Valley Tennis Club.
The Cutthroats swept the individual district titles in boys' and girls' singles, and all three doubles classes. They added four second places, one third and two fourths.
In boys' singles, Scooter Sabel defeated teammate Peter Atkinson 6-2, 6-1 in the finals.
Cody Curran was a 5-7, 7-6, 6-3 winner over teammate Courtney Hamilton in a battle of two tough baseline players in the girls' singles district championship.
Wes Flanigan and Christian Cairncross, defending state champs, downed a tough Sugar-Salem pair 5-7, 6-1, 6-2 in the boys' doubles final.
In a very competitive girls' doubles final, Mandy Alexander and Devon Bunce prevailed 6-3, 7-5 over teammates Guin Frehling-Emily Eshman.
In mixed doubles, Cutthroats Max Sabel and Jessie Curran were 6-0, 6-0 winners over teammates Connor Brown-McKenzie Hart.
Other highlights were, according to coach Huss:
Travis Stone "refused to lose," and battled in the consolation round to earn third place in boys' singles;
Grayson Palmer overcame heat exhaustion and too much tennis to earn fourth in girls' singles; and Tyler Chandler and Riley Berman played at the top of their games and took fourth place in boys' doubles.
The Community School (7-0-2 overall) finished its regular season with 12-0 and 11-1 home league wins over Gooding and Sugar-Salem last Tuesday at Sun Valley. "We played well. It was a boost of confidence for our players," said Huss.
Cutthroat singles winners in the two meets were Scooter Sabel, Peter Atkinson, Travis Stone, McClain Porter, Grayson Palmer, Courtney Hamilton and Emmy O'Reilly.
Winning doubles were Wes Flanigan-Christian Cairncross, Tyler Chandler-John Martin and Riley Berman, Max Sabel-Jessie Curran and Connor Brown-Mac Hart, Mandy Alexander-Emmy O'Reilly and Devon Bunce, Guin Frehling-Emily Eshman.
