Rockhurst, Pembroke Hill sweep boys tennis tennis state titles

Source: The Star

1 of 2

PHOTOS BY MARK SCHIEFELBEIN | Special to The Kansas City Star

Rockhurst High School’s Thomas O’Neill (above) and Tommy Aliber (below) of Pembroke Hill helped their respective squads to Missouri boys tennis team state championships last week at the state tournament in Springfield.

more boys tennis...

you might also like...

It was a good three days for area tennis players last weekend at the Missouri Class 1 and 2 state tennis tournaments in Springfield.

The success began Thursday when Rockhurst won the Class 2 team championship and Pembroke Hill claimed the Class 1 title.

While Pembroke Hill’s 5-2 victory over Mary Institute Country Day School (MICDS) of St. Louis came with little drama, the same could not be said for Rockhurst, which defeated Kirkwood 5-4.

Leading 2-1 after doubles, Rockhurst looked like it might cruise by winning two quick singles matches, but Kirkwood rebounded by winning the next three singles matches.

With the match tied 4-4, Rockhurst’s Dominic Palmieri won a marathon No. 3 singles match that spanned nearly three hours to win the title for Rockhurst. While one three-set match would have been grueling enough, it was the fourth such match of the day for Palmieri.

Palmieri and doubles partner Thomas O’Neill followed up the team finish with a third-place finish in the Class 2 doubles tournament on Friday and Saturday. They defeated the Lee’s Summit West doubles team of Trenton Piepergerdes and Peter Gardner.

The only champion from the Kansas City area was the doubles team of Teddy Fitzgibbons and Chris Somers of Pembroke Hill in Class 1.

“It feels good to get the championship,” Fitzgibbons said. “I’m glad we could win the title in Chris’ senior year.”

Also earning a place on the medal stand for the Raiders was Tommy Aliber, who was third in Class 1 singles.

Blue Springs South senior Nick Monaco won a medal by finishing fifth in Class 2 singles.

submitted by COLE YOUNG - 2009-06-02 14:21:01