ST. GEORGE: Hurricane’s #1 H.S. player, Sam Moyle has moved to a new level with a victory in the Blue Sky Open. Sam broke the serve of 2005 points leader and three-time champion, Kevin Orton in the third set to win the open 2-3, 3-2, 3-1. Heading into the State 3A Championships Sam’s conditioning, confidence and all court game has come together. In the semifinals he dominated the #1 seed Richard Wigley 3-1, 3-0 serving eight aces and in the final came back from a set down to break Orton’s serve to take the victory.
“Sam is playing with tournament toughness and a lot of confidence. He was serving 120 MPH service aces and backing it up with a solid ground game, overheads and his volleys were just excellent.” Wigley said “I played well, but he dominated me completely today. I am glad to see him keep his momentum throughout and beat Kevin in a tough final.”
Kevin’s path was more difficult as he played an inspired Isaac Nelson of Dixie 3-2, 3-2. Isaac beat #2 seed Jeremy Atkin for the first time holding on to win 3-0, 2-3, 3-2 in the quarterfinals while Orton played well enough to beat Pine View’s #2 player, Mike Schijf. In the final Kevin dove on the hard court for a backhand volley and got it back only to see Moyle place the ball comfortably in the middle of the open court. “Did you see that?” Gavin Rahde watching from the sidelines asked, “Does he want to win that bad”! He did want it that bad but Sam prevailed in an exciting and close battle.
Clint Aldred won the Tier II, Consolation event after losing in the main draw to Marc Manuele, 3-0, 0-3, 0-3. Clint defeated Steven Archibald of Dixie 3-2, 2-3, 3-0.
Archibald lost in the main draw to Jeremy Atkin but was able to come back in the Consolations and defeat a tough young player Ricky Rahde 3-0, 2-3, 3-0 and his older brother Gavin Rahde 3-1, 3-1 to face Clint in the final. Eric Mathis won the Tier III consolations over Brock Aldred 3-2, 3-2.
A very special thanks to David Smith of the St. George Tennis Academy who has been instrumental in the development of Super Saturday Tennis who is opening this week the Tennis Center and Pro Shop at the Summit Athletic Club on River Road in St. George. The Super Saturday Tennis programs will be expanding with new opportunities for playing both competitive and fun events. Please contact David Smith at 680-3250 for round robin action at the Summit. This coming Saturday at Tonaquint May 7th will be the Yucca Doubles Championships. Play is open to all players of all ages. Cost is $5 per player with all participants treated to sandwiches provided by Jimmy Johns of St. George. Check in for the tournament is at 10am. For more information, please call Richard Wigley at (435) 652-0739 or go to www.teachingtennis.com.
FINALS: (4)Sam Moyle def. (3)Kevin Orton 2-3, 3-2, 3-1; SEMIFINALS: Moyle (1)Richard Wigley 3-1, 3-0; Orton def. (7)Isaac Nelson 3-2, 3-2; QUARTERFINALS: Moyle def. (6)Marc Manuele 3-1, 3-1; Wigley def. (8)Mark Schoutens 3-2, 3-0; Orton def. (5)Mike Schijf 3-2, 3-1; I. Nelson def. (2)Jeremy Atkin 3-0, 2-3, 3-2; R-16;Wigley def. (16)Allie Bergen 3-0. 3-1; Moyle def. (12)Eric Mathis 3-1, 3-0; Atkin def. (15)Steven Archibald 3-0, 3-0; Isaac Nelson def. (13)Ricky Rahde 3-0, 3-1; Orton def. (11)Derek Wiggins 3-1, 3-0; Schijf def. (9)J.J. Crofts 3-0, 3-0; Manuele def. (10)Clint Aldred 1-3, 3-0, 3-0; Schoutens def. (14)Carlos Morgan 3-0, 3-1; R-32: Wigley def. (32)Andrew Talbert 3-0, 3-0; Moyle def. (30)Cameron Manwaring 3-0, 3-0; Atkin def. (31)Jon Nelson 3-0, 3-0; Isaac Nelson def. (25)Ryan Steck 3-0, 3-0; Orton def. (29)Brock Aldred 3-0, 3-0; Schijf def. (27)Matt Shaerrer 3-0, 3-0; Schoutens def. (26)Sara Last 3-0, 3-0; Bergen def. Carlos Hansen 3-1, 3-2; Aldred def. (24)Turner Pope 3-1, 3-0; Wiggins def. (19)Gavin Rahde 3-1, 1-3, 3-2; Tier II Final: Clint Aldred def. Steven Archibald 3-2, 2-3, 3-0; C- Semis: Aldred def. Manwaring 3-0, 3-0; Archibald def. Gavin Rahde 3-1, 3-1; C-Quarters: Gavin Rahde def. Turner Pope 3-1, 3-1; Archibald def. Ricky Rahde 3-0, 2-3, 3-0; Clint Aldred def. Derek Wiggins 0-3, 3-0, 3-0; C-16: Derek Wiggins def. J.J. Crofts 3-2, 3-2; Turner Pope def. Sara Last 3-1, 3-0; Gavin Rahde def. Mathis 3-2, 3-2; Ricky Rahde def. Morgan 3-1, 3-2; Archibald def. Hansen 3-0, 3-0; Talbert def. Allie Bergen 1-3, 3-1, 3-1; Manwaring def. Brock Aldred 3-2, 3-2; Clint Aldred def. Shaerrer 3-0, 3-1; C-32: Talbert def. Jon Nelson 3-0, 3-0; Sara Last def. Steck 2-3, 3-0, 3-0; Tier III Final: Eric Mathis def. Brock Aldred 3-2, 3-2; C-Semis: Mathis def. Morgan 3-0, 3-2; Brock Aldred def. Jon Nelson 1-3, 3-0, 3-1; C-Quarters: Morgan def. J.J. Crofts 3-2, 3-1: Jon Nelson def. Steck 3-1, 3-2; Brock Aldred def. Shaerrer 3-1, 3-2; Mathis def. Sara Last 3-0, 1-3, 3-0;
