IVESTER OVERCOMES ADVERSITY

Deer Creek's Matthew Ivester fought through injuries in his senior season before winning a state title and earning a spot on the All-State team

TULSA – Matthew Ivester though this competitive tennis career was finished.

Ive ste rand doubles partner, Kyler Melton, had captured a Class 6A state title at No. 2 doubles, Deer Creek's first tennis championship of any kind. The duo themselves had overcome adversity throughout the season and in the state matches to win the title.

Iv est er had dealt with injuries for most of the year. Melton was preparing to play singles in the state tournament before breaking a finger with only two weeks left in the regular season. Ivester and Melton paired up at the regional tournament, and they flourished.

“For me as a senior, it was about me trying to do whatever I could to help the team,” Ivester said. “Just trying to find out how we could finish strong.”

Finish strong he did, as Iv est er earned a spot on the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State team. His final high school competition came Tuesday at the Michael D. Case Tennis Center during the All-State competition.

Following the state tournament, Deer Creek coach Craig Hays was handing out awards at the end-ofs eason banquet when he announced Ivester's career wasn't complete.

Although the selection came as a shock to Ivester, who is attending Oklahoma in the fall, he sported a giant smile when learning of the news as his family and teammates cheered.

Ivester's story wasn't over yet, but the selection came as a product of the difficult times in his journey.

In May, Ivester announced his All- State selection on Twitter in a lengthy note, thanking his team mates, coaches and family for supporting him through all of the injuries and shortcomings during his career. Whether it was struggling to make the varsity team as a sophomore to disappointment in the state tournament the following season, all of it stuck with him.

Yet it's that adversity that crafted him to become an All-State tennis player.

“He outworked everyone, and not just on the tennis court,” Hays said. “Off the court, he deserves to be better than All-State.”

During the state tournament, Ivester and Melton knocked off the top two seeds, starting with No. 1 Edmond North in the quarter finals. After dropping the first set, the duo rallied to pull off the upset. Then in the state finals against Jenks, they again lost the first set before rallying to win in three sets, capturing the state title.

“Having three years of varsity experience and going through that adversity helped us in those big moments,” Ivester said. “I knew what to expect when matches got tight.”

Tuesday marks the end of Ivester's competitive tennis career, but the latter stages of it make up for the rambunctious start.