By Rubin E. Grant
Vestavia Hills junior Luke Bedwell didn’t intend to sound like a broken record, but he did repeat the same hard work theme while explaining how the Rebels won their third consecutive Class 7A state tennis championship and he won his third straight individual title.
“We put in a ton of work in the offseason and during the season,” Bedwell said. “We worked hard, and we knew we were ready for the state tournament. It was not a solo thing but an overall team thing.”
The hard work showed. Vestavia Hills won all six singles matches as the Rebels claimed the 7A boys title with 58 total points in the 79th AHSAA State Tennis Championships on April 22-23 at Mobile Tennis Center.
Florence finished second with 26 points and Auburn was third with 20.
The state title was the ninth for the Rebels boys program in school history.
“We felt good going in,” Vestavia Hills boys coach Oliver Aaron said. “We knew there would be strong competition. During the regular season, we try to put them in situations where they face tough competition so they would be ready for the state tournament. They played well under pressure.”
Vestavia Hills girls won their second title in three years, scoring 41 points to finish ahead of 2023 champion Auburn, which had 30 points. Huntsville was third with 27 points and Montgomery Academy fourth with 20.
In the boys competition, Bedwell won No. 1 singles, beating Fairhope’s Porter Hornigold 6-0, 6-1. It was Bedwell’s first title at No. 1. He won the No. 2 singles in 2023 and No. 5 singles in 2022.
“Winning No. 1 felt good,” Bedwell said. “I felt good going in ‘cause I put a lot of work in.”
Aaron also alluded to Bedwell’s work ethic.
“He’s always on the tennis courts, if not 365 days a year, then close to it,” Aaron said. “It’s not just him, but for all our other guys it’s a year-round sport.”
Rebels senior John Michael Yanosky won No. 2 singles, junior Andrew Pipkin won No. 3, senior Brayden Helms won No. 4, junior Louis Kolettis won No. 5, and junior Parker Liu won No. 6.
The Rebels also won two of three doubles titles with Helms, who is headed to play in college at Wallace State Community College in Hanceville, and Yanosky claiming the No. 1 doubles title while Pipkin and Kolettis won at No. 3. Florence’s team of Jake Champion and Jack White beat Vestavia’s Ben Cusmariu and Bedwell, 6-4. 2-6, 10-6 in the No. 2 doubles final.
“Winning eight of the nine courts is outstanding,” Aaron said. “We had gone 15-0 (on the opening day), so we put ourselves in position to win.”
Rebels Girls Dominate
Vestavia Hills’ girls were almost as dominating, capturing four of the six singles titles and one doubles crown as they won their 13th overall state championship. The Rebels finished as runners-up in 2023.
The Rebels’ singles winners were Kensley Outzen at No. 2, Caroline Helms at No. 3, Peyton Standifer at No. 5, and senior Riley McClain, who is headed to Millsaps College, at No. 6. In the No. 2 doubles finals, Helms and Wynn Strudel pulled out a 4-6, 7-5, 10-6 win over Auburn’s Victoria Choo and Sophie Smith.
“There was such great competition, so my girls really had to play their best,” Rebels girls coach Timarie Fisk said. “We told them nothing was going to be easy and they had to give 100 percent effort.
“We had a young team with only one senior, four juniors and a seventh grader, Peyton Standifer, at No. 5. They really wanted to win. They finished second last year and knew how it felt not to win, so that really motivated them.”
Fisk was glad to see the Rebels boys and girls sweep.
“When you win it as a coach by yourself, it’s good, but winning it with another coach from your school makes it very special,” she said.
Class 7A Results
Boys Team Scoring
1. Vestavia Hills 58, 2. Florence 26, 3. Auburn 20, 4. Hoover 16, 5. Bob Jones 14, 6. Montgomery Academy 9, 7. Fairhope 4, 8. Daphne 0
Boys Singles
No. 1: Luke Bedwell, Vestavia Hills d. Porter Hornigold, Fairhope, 6-0, 6-1
No. 2: John Michael Yanosky, Vestavia Hills d. Jonah Moro, Bob Jones, 6-1, 6-3
No. 3: Andrew Pipkin, Vestavia Hills d. Jason Wang, Auburn, 6-1, 6-0
No. 4: Brayden Helms, Vestavia Hills d. Cade Black, Florence, 6-2, 6-3
No. 5: Louis Kolettis, Vestavia Hills d. Shin Kim, Auburn, 6-7 (1), 6-4, 14-12
No. 6: Parker Liu, Vestavia Hills d. Wyler Washburn, Hoover, 6-3, 6-2
Boys Doubles
No. 1: Brayden Helms/John Michael Yanosky, Vestavia Hills d. Cohen Joiner/Cade Black, Florence, 6-4, 6-3
No. 2: Jake Champion/Jack White, Florence d. Ben Cusmariu/Luke Bedwell, Vestavia Hills, 6-4. 2-6, 10-6
No. 3: Andrew Pipkin/Louis, Kolettis, Vestavia Hills d. Jackson Plugge/C.L. Colby, Hoover, 6-2, 6-3
Girls Team Scoring
1. Vestavia Hills 41, 2. Auburn 30, 3. Huntsville 27, 4. Montgomery Academy 20, 5. Hoover 13, 6. Fairhope 10, 7. James Clemens 4, 8. Daphne 0
Girls Singles
No. 1: Gabby Barrera, Montgomery Academy d. Mazie MacGrotty, Huntsville, 6-4, 6-4
No. 2: Kenley Outzen, Vestavia Hills d. Mae Mae Voltz, Montgomery Academy, 6-4, 6-3
No. 3: Caroline Helms, Vestavia Hills d. Lola Campbell, Montgomery Academy, 6-1, 6-1
No. 4: Kristina Hwangpo, Hoover c. Hanbi Youn, Auburn, 6-2, 6-1
No. 5: Peyton Standifer, Vestavia Hills d. Emie Little, Huntsville, 6-3, 6-1
No. 6: Riley McClain, Vestavia Hills d. Jiyeon Park, Auburn, 6-3, 6-4
Girls Doubles
No. 1: Gabby Berrera/Mae Mae Voltz, Montgomery Academy d. Mazie MacGrotty/Abby Brown, Huntsville, 6-1, 6-1
No. 2: Caroline Helms/Wynn Strubel, Vestavia Hills d. Victoria Choo/Sophie Smith, Auburn, 4-6, 7-5, 10-6
No. 3: Shreya Ejantkar/Naomi Hanks, Auburn d. Sophie Shearburn/Emie Little, Huntsville, 6-1, 2-6, 10-6.
