On Thursday, the Leon High School boys tennis team defeated Gulf Breeze 4-1 to win the FHSAA Region 1 championship and secure a spot in the state tournament.
In the regional finals, the Lions took a 3-0 lead with wins at number three singles (Gordon Nicholson 6-0, 6-1), number four singles (Davis Wagnon 6-4, 6-1) and number five singles (Ben Brooks 6-4, 7-5).
Leon’s number one player – Gabe Garcia – then lost in a decisive tiebreaker, 10-7, and the number two player, Andy Lara, dropped the second set after winning the first. In the decisive 10-point breaker, Lara trailed 4-2, 6-4 and 8-6 before winning 11-9 to clinch the title.
The Leon team finished the season 18-2 in dual matches and have won 28 of 30 individual matches in the postseason.
Previously, Leon won the FHSAA Class 3A District 2 championship held in Lynn Haven, Florida and the City Championships.
Coach Kevin Record posted on the teams Instagram account, “Our Boys are HEADED TO STATE !!!! and thanked those who cheered the team on.
“This is a special victory to share!”, said Record.
The state tournament will be held in Orlando at Sanlando Park from May 1-3.
In picture above, from left to right: Coach Kevin Record, Gabriel Rios, Tate North, Paul Beckham, Andy Lara, Ben Brooks, Davis Wagnon, Gordon Nicholson, Gabe Garcia, Nick Wahl, & Max Simmons.
Very Cool. Congratulations.