Three from Cache Valley advance to state tennis semifinals

SALT LAKE CITY – The first two rounds of the UHSAA 4A Boys Tennis Championships took place Thursday at Liberty Park. Of the 20 Region 12 qualifying singles players and doubles pairs, only three were able to advance to the semifinal round on Saturday.

Green Canyon’s Ryan Jeppson and Ridgeline’s Ryan Cheney each won their first two matches to advance in the 1st Singles competition, while Ridgeline’s Erik Ellis did the same in the 3rd Singles bracket.

Jeppson was undefeated in region play and came into the state tournament as the top seed. He was able to sweep Payson’s Ryan Craig in two straight sets, but won a more challenging match in the second round against Bonneville’s Caden Heaton.

“It was a long hard fought match,” Jeppson said. “It was probably one of the funnest matches I’ve played all year.”

Jeppson won the first set in a tiebreaker and won the second 6-3.

“I think that match was good to get me ready for Saturday,” he said. “Hopefully I can do just as good on Saturday.”

Cheney, the No. 2 seed out of Region 12, beat Spanish Fork’s Seth Jones (6-2, 6-3) in the first round before defeating Park City’s Spencer Kunkell (6-3, 6-2) in the second.

Ellis, Region 12’s No. 1 seed in the third singles bracket, defeated Stansbury’s Jace Anderson (6-2, 6-0) and then Payson’s Cole Peterson in three sets (7-5, 5-7, 6-3).

Ellis will face Bonneville junior Andrew McCall Saturday in the semifinals while his teammate Cheney goes up against Salem Hills’ Tanner Nicholls. Jeppson will be matched up against undefeated Orem senior Kaden Craig.

“He’s big and he likes to come to the net,” Jeppson said. “I need to play hard and I need to hit some good passing shots and keep him off the net.”

The complete brackets can be viewed at this link.

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