First-set rally gives Rogers right push against Stearns
Pulaski Academy sophomore Foster Rogers spoiled Little Rock Catholic’s shot at a sweep during the Overall boys state tennis tournament on Tuesday at Burns Park in North Little Rock.
Rallying from a 5-2 first-set deficit, Rogers defeated Little Rock Catholic’s Parker Stearns in the singles championship 7-6, 6-2 for his first Overall title. Little Rock Catholic duo Henry Nolan and Steven Weeks won the doubles championship.
“I started a little slow in the first set,’’ Rogers said. “I was playing all right in the first set, but I lost a few.
“Even when I was down, I still thought I had a chance. I was right in it the whole set, and I knew if I could string a few points together I could get it rolling.
“Once I won the game to get to 5-4, I knew I had a real chance.”
Rogers won the tiebreaker 7-5.
In the final set, he won 6-2. “The games were all close,’’ he said. “I was a lot looser and still confident but the matches were still close. It was 6-2 but the games were close.”
In the morning semifinals, Stearns defeated Jack Bridges of Pulaski Academy 7-5, 6-4 and Rogers put away Episcopal Collegiate junior Harrison Janes 6-1, 6-0.
On the adjacent court a pair of Catholic teams played in the doubles finals. Defending champions Nolan and Weeks defeated teammates Jackson Davis and Harrison Cook 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. Nolan and Weeks are juniors while Davis is a sophomore and Cook a freshman.
“They are very even,’’ Catholic Coach Tim Glancy said. “And they are a lot of fun to coach.”
Nolan and Weeks reached the finals with a morning 6-2, 6-1 victory over Blake Wooldridge and Noah Ross of Hot Springs Lakeside. Davis and Cook defeated Cole Spainhour and Tristan Cato of Jonesboro 6-1, 6-0 to reach the title match.
A weather change created different conditions Tuesday. A warm day with little wind was replaced by cooler temperatures and strong breezes.
“It was not a big factor but on a few points here and there,” Rogers said. “It was frustrating because the ball
would do crazy things all of the sudden. I got to play earlier today in my first match, so I guess I got used to it and it was not that big of a factor.”