- November 26, 2024
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There’s only one player on the team, who has been on the team for more than this year: Noah Thompson. Nevertheless, in the first year the FHSAA decided to change the state tennis finals format to the more team-themed dual matches, the Sandcrabs not only have placed themselves in the tournament, but they are confident they can win it all.
Will Greaves: Last season, Greaves led Father Lopez to the state finals as the No. 1 player. Greaves was eliminated early in singles play, and he and Dane Hawthorne lost in the semifinals in the doubles draw. Greaves’ only loss of the season has come in the district final to Bartram Trail, but he avenged that loss by winning the key match that allowed them to win the regional final over Bartram Trail. He called that win the biggest of his life, knowing it’s important.
He trailed the tiebreaker set 9-7 but ended up scoring four straight points to win the match.
Greaves hopes he can join his grandfather, John, in winning a state championship. John was on the Seabreeze basketball team that won a title in the ’60s.
James Vuille-Kowing: As a freshman, Vuille-Kowing has played at No. 2 throughout the year. He’s benefited from the new format, losing both his singles and doubles match in the regionals. Set up with a chance to help his team win the ultimate prize, Vuille-Kowing hopes to make the most of this opportunity, reaching the state tournament in his first high school year.
“It’s certainly exciting,” he said. “I’m happy to be playing on this team. I know it’ll be a valuable experience.”
Collin West: West, a sophomore, played for Spruce Creek his freshman year, and they were eliminated in the regional tournament. West credits coach Robert Holtgrewe’s laidback mentality for helping him to grow as a player and the team to grow. Hanging around these new guys, he says they’ve taught him not to underestimate himself.
“When we used to go out to matches, and I’d see my opponent warming up, I would get nervous and assume I was going to lose,” West said. “But then, I would go out there and destroy the guy. They taught me to have confidence in myself.”
Noah Thompson: Thompson returns to the state tournament, only under different circumstances. Last season, he went as an individual, and the No. 1 player. This season, he sacrificed his ego and took the No. 4 role. Thompson hopes his many sacrifices will pay off.
“It’s definitely exciting to be able to do this my senior year,” he said. “I’ve been working on this for four years now. I’ve seen a lot of players come and go from this team, but it’s nice to be the captain of a good group of guys who can potentially win something we can hang up in the school.”
Dane Hawthorne: Suffering from a hand injury for the majority of the season, Hawthorne, who also transferred from Father Lopez, has come up big for Seabreeze this last month. He and Greaves won their doubles match in the regional, and won his single match, which helped them reach the state tournament.
Coming onto the team late, Hawthorne expressed his gratitude in how the team has welcomed him, and he believes the team will benefit from the new format.
“I feel like we’ll be able to win a lot of matches against the teams we may not be able to beat alone,” he said.
The Sandcrabs will begin state tournament play today, and, if they advance, the championship will be held on Thursday.
