Vero Beach boys tennis primed for state title run

Success at the state level hasn't eluded the Vero Beach boys tennis program in the history of the program.

A batch of close calls to bringing home the state championship trophy however looms with five state runner-up finishes looming around the prospects of this year's team forging a path to the top.

The bulk of 2022-23 Vero Beach roster got the taste of how close a state title was two years ago finishing as the 4A runner-up but this year have eyes on going all the way.

Playing a difficult schedule during the regular season, Vero Beach rolled over their competition at this week's District 10-4A tournament at Whispering Pines Park in Port St. Lucie and know that in front of them is a path they believe they are prepared for to meet with the expectation that a state title can be won.

Veteran lineup gets battle tested

On the 2020-21 team that was the last Vero Beach team to appear in a state final match, current seniors Mac Johnson, Bo Johnson, Figge Pernfors and junior Mason Cisco all were in the lineup during the season.

Falling to five-time state champion Dr. Krop, the same core group had another strong season last year adding then-freshman Walter Lloyd to the lineup but were met by a roadblock in Lake Nona in the regional finals at home and lost to the Lions, who would go on to win the 4A state title.

Bringing back the same lineup into this season, the chemistry among the group is one reason why Vero Beach was optimistic from the start of the year that something special could be possible.

"We all play together outside of high school season, we all train together and we're a tight-knit group, eat lunch together every day at school," team captain Mac Johnson said. "It's a fun group of guys."

In preparing for another run this season, first year head coach Mike Hickey, an assistant with the team the past two years, sought out to build a schedule that would challenge his kids more than they had in past years.

The result was playing top teams from all over Florida as well as Sidwell Friends out of Washington, D.C., and a trip to the Spruce Creek Invitational that included wins over Ponte Vedra, last year’s 3A state champion, host Spruce Creek and Tampa Jesuit led to a tournament championship for Vero Beach.

Hickey believes that those tough matches will prove to be crucial in the postseason with his kids sure to have encounters against skilled opponents where they will need to dig in to prevail in key moments of the match.

"Getting the boys good matches where a lot of times in past years, the first time they saw a good opponent was a match that really mattered so much late in the year," Hickey said. "The pressure they faced at the Spruce Creek Invitational, some of the matches they won, they were so clutch. The boys had lost a couple good matches early in the season and it seemed like they learned from those later on in the season where they had some really good wins that maybe they wouldn't have had if they didn't have those tough losses in the beginning of the season."

As team captain, Mac Johnson agreed that psychologically the team as a unit feels better prepared compared to the past two seasons because of the top teams they have already seen.

From learning after mistakes that cost the team in their two match defeats this year to state powers Saint Andrew's and Pine Crest to applying what they've learned to defeat talented teams later in the year, Mac Johnson is hopeful his teammates can put everything together at the right time.

"We feel that even talking to some of the Lake Nona kids we know that we've definitely played a tougher schedule than they have," Mac Johnson said. "The two teams we lost to are private schools, and all the tough teams we've seen will be a huge help. Playing in tiebreaks, those experiences against good teams can be really valuable if we get into elimination matches, I think some of that experience can give us the upper hand."

Winner takes all?

Vero Beach's triumph at the District 10-4A tournament on Monday and Tuesday was the first step of what they hope is towards a state championship run.

Cisco at the No. 1 spot in the lineup, Bo Johnson at No. 2, Pernfors, the son of former top-10 ranked star Mikael Pernfors, at No. 3, Mac Johnson at No. 4 and Lloyd at No. 5 all won their singles matches in straight sets.

At doubles, the Johnson brothers were a team last year but have split up to formidable duos with Bo Johnson teaming with Cisco at No. 1 doubles and Mac Johnson teaming with Pernfors at No. 2 doubles both sweeping their opponents at the district tournament.

With their lineup set, Vero Beach is lined up to host Windermere next Tuesday in the regional semifinals. If they were to win, a rematch against Lake Nona would take place on the road as opposed to last year getting the Lions at home.

Mac Johnson along with his teammates feel that if they were to see Lake Nona, it would almost be a winner-takes-all scenario with the victor having an inside track to a state championship while the loser will sit at home wondering what could have been.

"Assuming we get past Tuesday first, we're pretty evenly matched and it will be an absolute dogfight if we play them," Mac Johnson said.

Elsewhere around the area

At the same District 10-4A Championship, Martin County's girls came away with the championship and will get the chance to host a regional semifinal next Tuesday.

Sophia Raley at No. 2 singles, Ashley Messer at No. 3 singles and Ella Johnson at No. 5 singles all won their brackets to help the Tigers defeat runner-up Viera.

Okeechobee's girls won their third consecutive district title, claiming the District 14-3A title on their home courts to punch their berth to the state tournament.

Senior Isabella Derigo clinched her berth to the state tournament by winning her bracket at No. 1 singles for the Brahmans, who will host Lake Buena Vista next Tuesday.

Derigo also teamed with Kiersten Sales to win the bracket at No. 1 doubles and the duo will also compete at the state tournament.

South Fork's girls finished as the district runner-up, earning a spot in the state tournament and will travel to play Gateway in Kissimmee next Tuesday.

The Bulldogs had Kylie Swartzendruber win her bracket at No. 5 singles and at No. 2 doubles, Aubrey Scammell and Kylie Khin also won their bracket.

South Fork's boys and Sebastian River's boys will have a tiebreaker match Friday to decide the District 14-3A champion at the Lawnwood Tennis Complex in Fort Pierce.

Both teams have clinched their state playoff berth and for the Sharks, Kai Edwards won the No. 1 singles bracket to also earn a berth to the state tournament.

Okeechobee's Peyton Johnson and Isaac Schlosser also clinched a spot at the state tournament as they won the No. 1 doubles bracket for the Brahmans.

Master's Academy's girls advanced to a regional semifinal on Tuesday by finishing as the District 8-1A runner-up at Riverside Park in Vero Beach.

Addison Trotter and Alena Yancy earned a berth to the state tournament by winning their bracket at No. 1 doubles for the Patriots, who will take on Florida Prep on the road next Tuesday.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Vero Beach boys tennis primed for state title run