Salina Central twins Connor and Collin Phelps take third in final tennis tournament

TOPEKA — When Salina Central seniors Connor and Collin Phelps walked off court No. 14 at the Kossover Tennis Complex, it wasn't the way they envisioned.

The goal was state championship or bust.

Their hopes of winning a state championship were dashed in the semifinals Saturday morning in a 6-2, 7-5 loss to eventual state champions Ian and Miles Cusick of Topeka West. However, the twin brothers bounced against Arkansas City's Oakley and Dawson O'Donnell for third place, 6-2, 6-4.

"They just played incredible today and sometimes that's something that just happens and there's nothing you can do about it," Connor Phelps said of falling in the semifinals to the Cusicks. "We've played them twice before and neither time had they played that good. They had a good day and sometimes that happens.

"I think we played well and I'm happy with our results, although it wasn't exactly what we wanted."

More: How Salina South's girls track and field team won its first league championship in 39 years

A quick refresher

Prior to playing their third-place match against the O'Donnells, the Phelpses went back to their hotel to think about things and get refreshed.

It helped them to think about things that didn't go so well in their semifinal.

"I was really down after that semifinal match, but I went and showered and that I was due to get after that," Collin said. "I felt loose because like third or fourth place, I'm not playing for the state championship. I can just play loose and play my best tennis.

One final hug together as teammates

After winning their final match together, it was hugs all around, including one last one together as teammates.

"It'll be pretty rare that me and Collin get to play doubles together again, especially in a competitive setting (and) not just like a practice setting," Connor Phelps said. "That was really special. It's a mixed bag of emotions."

Collin added that moment was the start of a new phase in his life.

"I had so much fun playing with my brother and that's one of the last things that we're going to be able to do together as a team," Collin said.

The next chapter

With Central having its commencement on Sunday, the Phelpses will have one last moment together as Mustangs. Then their tennis paths will head in different directions when the fall rolls around.

Connor will attend Piedmont University, an NCAA Division III institution in Dermont, Georgia, while Collin will remain in Salina and play for Kansas Wesleyan.

"I'm going to work hard and try my best to be a good addition to the team and win a league title over there," Connor Phelps said of Piedmont. "I'm really excited to go and play at a high level of college tennis and be able to work hard just try to get success at that next level of tennis."

Collin will play Wesleyan coach Josh Molino, with whom he has worked with since he was in eighth grade.

"It's pretty crazy how much we've improved since then," Collin said. "I'm super excited. We've got so many good freshmen coming in and already an existing good team of sophomores next year."

How Salina South tennis did at the state tournament

South's doubles team of Andrew Schrage and Isaac Harper went 0-2 on Friday and were eliminated by Benjamin Fitterer and Derek Mulder of Mill Valley, 9-3.

How Sacred Heart tennis fared in the state tournament

Of the three entries Sacred Heart sent to the Class 3-2-1A state tournament in Prairie Village, two medaled.

Casey Perrin led the Knights with an eighth-place finis, falling to Smoky Valley's Keaton Leiker, 9-2, in the seventh-place match.

Jace Douglas finished in 11th with a 9-6 victory over Connor Harcrow of Hutchinson Trinity.

The doubles team of Sean Riordan and Ben Cheney went 1-2 and was eliminated by Hoisington's Evan Foltz and Chase Maier in the second round of the consolation bracket, 9-6.

Dylan Sherwood has been a sports reporter for the Salina Journal since August 2019. He can be reached at dsherwood@salina.com or on Twitter @DSherwoodSJ

This article originally appeared on Salina Journal: Salina Central tennis' Collin and Connor Phelps finish third at state