For the first time since 2019, Park Hill South will be represented at the boys tennis individual state championships.
Panther junior southpaw Henry Jacobs will break the program’s six-year drought after finishing as runner-up in the Class 3 District 8 Tournament last week in Liberty.
As the No. 2 overall seed in singles, the junior received a first-round bye before a quarterfinal victory against junior Andrew Byrd from St. Joseph Central. Jacobs gutted out a 7-6 first-set win before a more comfortable 6-2 score to clinch his spot in the semifinals.
Jacobs had to defeat sophomore Carter Jellison from Liberty North in the semifinals to earn a spot in the state tournament. That is precisely what he did, moving into the district championship with his spot in state confirmed for the first time in his career.
“I’m very proud for him,” Park Hill South coach Ian Cunliff said of Jacobs’ state qualification. “It’s a big accomplishment for him. He came through a tough match this morning, got it together, played really well in the semis but faced a better opponent in the finals.”
In the district finals, Jacobs had a tall task against Liberty standout freshman Logan Huyser. Jacobs started well, winning the first game, but it was all downhill from there against the No. 1 overall seed.
Huyser got into a rhythm and never let Jacobs back into the match. Jacobs lost the first set 6-1 before dropping the second set 6-0, settling for a second-place finish in districts but securing his place in the state tournament.
“He’s looking forward to state for sure,” Cunliff said. “State always comes back to the randomness of the draw.”
Park Hill South’s other singles competitor, No. 4-seeded Noah Slaughter, was a quarterfinalist in his final district individual appearance as a senior. He started with a decisive victory against Isaac Hoyal from Oak Park, winning 6-1, 6-0 in the round of 16 before losing in the quarterfinals against Rudy Habiger from St. Joseph Central by scores of 6-2, 6-2.
On the doubles side, Park Hill South went undefeated against teams not named Park Hill. The Graham Albani and Roberto Shepard duo faced first-round elimination against Park Hill’s Franco Timotei and Will Poole, losing 6-0, 6-1.
The brotherly tandem of Noah and Sam Patel made a deep run in districts, defeating a Liberty pairing 6-2-, 6-2 before a quarterfinal victory against Liberty North 6-1, 6-2. With a spot in the state tournament on the line, the Patels could not upset the top-seeded Park Hill duo of Drew Miller and Carter Lovitt in the semifinals, losing 6-1, 6-0.
Next, No. 4-seeded Park Hill South shifts its focus to the team district tournament throughout this week. They will have to take out No. 5 Liberty North on Monday, May 5, to get a semifinal shot at top-seeded Park Hill on Tuesday before Wednesday’s championship match. Jacobs will make his individual trip to the state championships in Springfield, May 16-17.