Hillsboro High School tennis player Harry Faber went 4-2 Friday and Saturday at the state tennis tournament in Wichita to earn ninth place in the tournament.
“Harry’s game has really improved this year as he worked at being a complete player and developing all aspects of his game,” head coach Stuart Holmes said.
In an example of that improvement, Faber defeated Grant Prilliman of Conway Springs 9-3 in the ninth place match. Faber had played Prilliman three times previous this year and had lost all three matches.
A key point in that match was when Faber was able to counter a lob shot from Prilliman by quickly backing away from the net and smashing an overhand winner.
“Harry played well most of the two days and had many good shots, but that point seemed to punctuate his outstanding first appearance in the state tournament,” Holmes said.
Holmes was impressed with Faber’s victory over Isaiah Fabrizius in Faber’s second match of the tournament. Fabrizius of Wakeeney-Trego Community was a second-place finisher in the Russel region and came into the tournament with a 21-3 record. Fabrizius failed to win a game against Faber, a 6-0 and 6-0 victory for the Trojan player.
Faber was also able to overcome a shaky start against Tyler Tophorn of Marysville to win his third match of the tournament 9-7.
Faber also defeated Wyle Yeager of Scott Community, 6-3 and 6-3, in the first round. Faber finished the year with a record of 23-15.
Hillsboro teammate Grant Shewey started out his state tournament with a convincing victory, defeating Yeager 6-0 and 6-0. However, he then ran into No. 1 seed from the Russel regional Eduardo Martelli of Sterling. Martelli is a foreign exchange student from Italy and one of the top young players in his country. Shewey lost Friday to the Italian, 6-0 and 6-0. Coming into the tournament, Martelli was 28-1.
Shewey faced another familiar foe in Ross Rasmussen of Conway Springs on Saturday; they had played three close matches already this year. Rasmussen won the match, 9-3. Shewey finished the year with a record of 22-13.