Published: August 03, 2009 02:59 pm      

A look back at All-State week

Tulsa — After toiling in the shadow of the girls program for most of this decade, Ada High’s boys tennis program returned to prominence in 2009 with a runner-up finish in Class 5A. And All-State Week did nothing to slow the Cougars’ momentum.

Brandon Russell, who teamed with Chase Sheffield for a clutch victory in the third-place match at this year’s state tournament that enabled Ada to hang on for the runner-up spot in the team standings, swept both of his All-State matches Tuesday, and veteran AHS tennis coach was named boys Coach of the Year by the Oklahoma Coaches Association for the third time.

“You’re always surprised,” said Griese, who had earlier been voted region Coach of the Year by the OCA and 5A boys Coach of the Year by the Oklahoma Tennis Coaches Association. “To get voted that honor by your peers is awesome.”

Griese’s latest honor came on the heels of the most successful season in years for his boys program. The Cougars won all eight of their opening-round matches at this year’s state tournament, then held on to finish second to Bishop Kelley, with the victory by Russell and Sheffield the clincher.

“I knew we had a chance to play for second place,” Griese said. “It was nice for everybody to be playing in the main draw on the second day.”

After sweeping their matches on the first day of the state tournament, the Cougars struggled on Saturday, losing seven of eight. Russell and Sheffield bounced back from a semifinal loss to win their third-place match, however, and enable the team to hang onto the No. 2 spot in the standings.

Russell, a four-year starter for the Cougars who hadn’t played a singles match since his sophomore year, was a part of a dominant All-State effort by the East squad, which swept all 12 matches from the West.

In doubles, Russell teamed with Muskogee’s Brandon Finerty for an impressive 8-2 victory over Austin Bell and Connor Tebow (both of Oklahoam Christian School), then he dominated the final games of an 8-4 victory over Tebow in singles.

“Brandon played well,” Griese said. “He and Brandon Finerty dominated their doubles match. In singles, it was close until about 4-3, then he pulled away.”

Russell’s performance was one of the highlights of a week in which two other Ada High athletes — Taylor Howard (golf) and Cory Javernick (football) — and several other area stars competed against the best in Oklahoma.

Howard, who finished sixth at this year’s 5A state tournament and is preparing for her first year as a member of the Oklahoma City University golf team, shot a round of 81 for the East, which was beaten by the West Monday, and Javernick was a linebacker on the East team that edged the West, 23-22, in a thriller at Tulsa Union Friday night. Another Cougar standout, Colton Richardson, was named to the East squad but didn’t play in the game.

In baseball Monday, Tupelo outfielder Jeremy Stein and Roff catcher Taylor Whitis helped the East to an 8-3 victory over the West. Neither local player had a hit in the game, but Stein — who started in center field — drew a leadoff walk and scored the game’s first run on a sacrifice fly. Whitis started behind the plate for the East and was 0-for-1 with a walk in the victory.

Sulphur’s Zac Swartz, one of the area’s best all-around athletes, earned All-State honors in wrestling. He was beaten by Jerad Schroeder of Bristow at 135 pounds in his only match, and his Small West squad fell to the Small East, 51-12.

Byng boys basketball coach Trent Miller had a rough All-State appearance as his Large East basketball squad dropped an 86-60 decision to the Large West Thursday night inside Oral Roberts University’s Mabee Center.

Former Byng boys basketball coach and current tennis coach Alan Simpson was inducted into the Oklahoma Coaches Association Hall of Fame during a banquet last Sunday at the Marriott Hotel in Tulsa to kick off All-State week.