Vikings are the kings of the court

It was a scene unseen since 1979.

For the first time in 32 years, a Tennessee High team donned the mantle of state champions Wednesday afternoon as the Vikings won the first boys team tennis state title in school history with a 4-2 triumph over Brentwood in the AAA final.

“That moment out there, that’s probably the closest I’ve ever come to crying on a tennis court,” said senior Owen Rockett. “No doubt.”

Prior to Wednesday, the last Tennessee High team to win a state title in any sport was the boys golf squad in 1979.

Tennessee High won three of the five singles matches at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro, Tenn., – getting straight-set victories at the top three spots from Conner Knox, Nic Wilson and Rockett – and claimed the title when Wilson and fellow sophomore Seth Buckmaster polished off an 8-3 doubles win.

With a 3-2 lead after the singles competition, Tennessee High needed to win just one of two doubles matches to snatch the crown from Brentwood, which won the 2010 title.

Even though Tennessee High had excelled at doubles all season – and had the defending doubles state champions in Knox and Rockett filling one slot – Vikings coach Jennie Gardner said she was sweating out every point.

“It just escalates your anxiety a little bit even when you’re a point ahead because I thought, well gosh, maybe we’ve got a chance here,” she said.

Wilson and Buckmaster jumped out to a 6-0 lead over Evan Borowski and Michael Arguello in their doubles match, but then dropped the next three games.

Even so, the Tennessee High duo said they never let any doubt sink in.

“I definitely felt like we were in control,” Wilson said.

“We were pretty confident,” Buckmaster added.

Rockett admitted to stealing glances over at his teammates’ match, which was being played simultaneously one court over from his and Knox’s duel with Alex Howard and Drake Hernandez.

“I couldn’t help but look over there the whole time,” Rockett said. “They got up 6-0 and then the other guys started coming back. I think our opponents also couldn’t help but watch.

“It sort of distracted me a little bit, but I’m glad they did it for us.”

Knox and Rockett were actually trailing in their match when Wilson and Buckmaster sealed the deal for Tennessee High – a fact Wilson said he and his partner were also well aware of.

“They were down,” Wilson said. “We both definitely knew we had to clutch it out.”

Wilson and Buckmaster did just that, setting off a celebratory mosh pit of Vikings as the rest of their teammates rushed their court after the final point.

No. 5 singles player Robert Fletcher almost won it for Tennessee High in the singles competition, but he was unable to hold a one-set lead against Arguello, falling 2-6, 6-0, 6-4.

Meanwhile, the Vikings’ No. 6 player, William Bane – who didn’t play in the shortened postseason lineup – still found a way to contribute Wednesday, donating his gray Viking tennis t-shirt to Wilson when Wilson’s went missing.

“He told me before the matches that it was an undefeated shirt – it hadn’t gotten beat,” Wilson said. “He said I had to keep that up and I did.”

The state championship was a sweet parting gift for Gardner, who is retiring after four years at Tennessee High and five previous Virginia state girls team titles at Gate City.

“All credit to the guys and the great help,” she said. “I’ve always been blessed with having great help.

“[Brentwood] was a very good team. We beat a very good team. It wasn’t like the points came easy. That’s the way it’s supposed to be, two good teams in the finals.”

Gardner and seniors Knox and Rockett, though, aren’t quite done just yet.

With the state team title now in hand, Knox and Rockett will attempt to defend their 2010 doubles title beginning Thursday with a quarterfinal matchup against their Brentwood opponents from the team competition, Howard and Hernandez.

But on Wednesday, it was all about the team for Tennessee High.

“Everybody on the team, we couldn’t have done it without them,” Rockett said, also crediting Gardner and assistant coach Cheri Lomison. “Everybody played a part.”

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