Mount Vernon was abuzz on Saturday at the 2024 Kokosing Valley Tennis Association Boys’ Tennis Team Invitational. Teams journeyed from every corner of Ohio, with representatives from Geneva up north to the powerhouse Marietta squad down south, ultimately crowned as the event’s champion. Mount Vernon secured a commendable fourth-place finish fueled by remarkable performances in both singles and doubles categories.
Senior Quinn Hoffman and junior Andrew Conway led the charge to impressive third-place finishes in their respective singles categories. Hoffman’s journey was marked by determination, starting the day with a commanding 8-5 victory over Copley’s Ben Williams. Hoffman then faced a tough challenge against the eventual champion from Marietta and suffered a 1-8 defeat, Hoffman bounced back triumphantly by defeating Thomas Worthington’s Juhno Baker with a solid 8-2 score, securing his well-deserved third-place finish in first singles.
Conway began the day with a dominant 8-1 win against Coshocton’s Syler D’Ostroph. Despite a narrow 8-9 loss to the eventual tournament champion from Marietta, Conway showcased resilience, finishing strong with an 8-2 victory over Ben McGrowan from Copley, clinching third place in third singles.
The doubles teams also made significant contributions to Mount Vernon’s success. First doubles duo Pete Lawhon and Austin Anderson staged a remarkable comeback, rallying from a 2-5 deficit to secure a thrilling 8-5 victory in their final match of the day, securing a well-deserved third-place finish. Lawhon and Anderson displayed grit and teamwork throughout the tournament, earning an initial victory against Chippewa with an 8-3 score before facing a tough challenge against Copley in their second match.
Wyatt Rhoades showcased his skills in singles, finishing with a commendable 2-1 record to earn fifth place in the tournament. The second doubles team of Wade Brown and Reece Shuman also delivered solid performances, finishing with a 2-1 record and securing fifth place as well, further highlighting Mount Vernon’s depth and talent across all categories.
