This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

In some circles, Lone Peak is considered to always been in contention for state crowns no matter the sport.

But Knights' senior Brocton Andrus said that the reality, within the Class 5A boys' tennis sphere anyway, wasn't quite that way. But Andrus and his teammates took a big step toward establishing a new Lone Peak legacy on the courts by grabbing the team championship on Saturday.

"We're a hard-working group and it paid off. We were definitely motivated," Andrus said. "We heard before the tournament that Lone Peak would do the same thing — that we would cruise through region and then lose at state.

"But we proved them wrong," he added.

And Andrus had much to do with that.

He beat Brighton's Chase Stoner, another pre-tourney favorite in 1st singles, in the semifinals 6-2, 6-2 earlier in the day.

In the championship at the University of Utah indoor courts, Andrus then beat Viewmont's Jack Taylor 6-1, 6-1 for the singles crown.

Only early in the match, when Taylor had game point and a chance to put the first set back on serve, was the contest close. But Andrus won the game for a 3-1 lead and was in control the rest of the way as Taylor's first-serve sometimes faltered, and Andrus increasingly preyed upon the second.

"My game is to attack and play really aggressive, move in and try to get to the net," Andrus said. "But my forehand was working really well today, so I didn't have to get to the net as much."

Taylor, who was a finalist in 2nd singles a year ago, clinched his spot in the championship by outlasting Pleasant Grove's Ty Harris 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5 in the semifinal round.

"He's an amazing player and I wasn't expecting much," said Taylor, a junior with Viewmont. "I've got a year to see what I can do."

Lone Peak finished with 26 points in the team scoring, while defending champ Brighton ended up with 18.

The Knights swept through the singles categories as Brigham Andrus beat Brighton's Jared Mansell 6-1, 6-4 in the 2nd singles championship while Lone Peak's Micah Heimule also won the 3rd singles crown by knocking off Brighton's Mitchell Mansell 7-5, 6-4.

Lone Peak's doubles entries also advanced to the championship round, but the American Fork duo of Spencer Wood and Brayden Condie took 1st doubles while Brighton's Cannon Mansell and Jake Fisher took 2nd doubles.

The Wood/Condie first-place finish might have been the most unlikely.

Condie didn't take up tennis until a year ago and Wood had never advanced past the first day of a state tourney until this year in any category.

And against the Lone Peak team of Bryan Gricius and Dallin Carrier, the combo from American Fork dropped the first set while winning only one game. But Wood and Condie righted themselves and ended up taking a 1-6, 6-4, 6-4 victory.

"I've been playing tennis since I was ten and this was always the end-goal. I've been to state twice before, but never made it past the second round," Wood said. "It was already a huge victory getting to the second day.

"I had never seen a doubles team come out and pound the ball like they did," said Wood of the Knights' pair. "But then it kind of evened out and we just stayed consistent." —

Class 5A results

Championship matches

1st singles • Brocton Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Jack Taylor, Viewmont, 6-1, 6-1

2nd singles • Brigham Andrus, Lone Peak, def. Jared Mansell, Brighton, 6-1, 6-4

3rd singles • Micah Heimuli, Lone Peak, def. Mitchell Mansell, Brighton, 7-5, 6-4

1st doubles • Spencer Wood/Brayden Condie, American Fork, def. Bryan Gricius/Dallin Carrier, Lone Peak, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4

2nd doubles • Cannon Mansell/Jake Fisher, Brighton, def. Niles Cochran/Josh Bearss, Lone Peak, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-5)

Team scores • 1. Lone Peak 26, 2. Brighton 18, 3. Viewmont 11, 4. American Fork 7, 5. Davis 6.