Kato Richardson is just one of several Midstate tennis players hoping for his shot at a Class AAA state championship with two-time champion Steven Karl out of the mix.
Ravenwood’s Steven Karl won the Class AAA state singles title the past two seasons, but his early enrollment into college is giving others a shot at that title this season.
At least their coaches hope so.
Karl breezed through the state tournament in 2014 and 2015, but elected to graduate in December and enroll for the spring semester at the University of Tennessee, where he is a redshirt member of the tennis team.
He is currently ranked No. 12 in the nation by TennisRecruiting.net and compiled a 53-3 record in his three seasons with Ravenwood, including a 40-0 record in his final two.
Without the state’s top ace standing in their way, several Midstate athletes are hoping 2016 marks their turn claim the Class AAA crown.
Hendersonville senior Kato Richardson and White County junior Cole Crosland made it to the state tournament last season, but both fell to Science Hill senior Andrew Morton.
Morton defeated Crosland in the quarterfinals before dropping Richardson in the semifinals to advance to the state title match, where Karl defeated him in straight sets.
Coming up short last year may have sparked a fire under the two tournament veterans.
“I’m kind of sad (Karl) left,” Richardson said. “Coach (Brannon Jones) scheduled two matches with them. I’ve heard good things about (Brentwood’s Sam Fischer) but I haven’t seen him play.”
Richardson, a first-team All-Midstate selection last year, signed with Tennessee State University recently and is following up last year’s semifinal appearance with an unbeaten start to 2016.
“As of right now he’s a lot more consistent than his opponents,” Jones said. “He’s gotten a little bit bigger and stronger and it’s given him an extra dimension to his game.”
Crosland has been dominant as well this season with a 12-0 record and being named District 6-AAA Player of the Year.
“He’s just so athletic and his hand-eye coordination make it looks effortless out there for him,” White County coach Tyler Hillis said. “Mentally he’s pretty tough. When he gets behind in a set he comes back pretty strong in the next game.”
Despite the hot starts for Richardson and Crosland and their past state tournament experience, two of the biggest obstacles in their way of capturing a Class AAA title in 2016 happen to be a pair of athletes who didn’t even make it to the tournament a year ago — Brentwood seniors Fischer and Andrew Rogers.
Both Fischer and Rogers may have been capable of deep state tournament runs last year, but competing in Region 6-AAA with Karl meant that just wasn’t an option. Only the region champion advances to the state tennis tournament.
Rogers finished his season 10-1, with his lone loss coming to Fischer in the region. After beating his own doubles partner, Fischer was knocked out by Karl in the region finals.
Fischer finished his season with an 8-3 record, with all three of his losses coming to Karl.
He is currently the No. 1-ranked player in the state of Tennessee and No. 80-ranked player in the nation, according to TennisRecruiting.net, while Rogers is nipping at his heels as the No. 2-ranked player in Tennessee.
“For all intents and purposes, they’re almost interchangeable,” Brentwood coach Bill Jayne said.
District 11-AAA players from Williamson County have dominated the Class AAA boys singles tournament over recent years, winning nine of the last 10 state titles. Former Ravenwood star Sean Karl (Steven’s late brother) and former Centennial star Ian Chadwell each won three in a row during that stretch.
“Sam Fischer is pretty much the new Steven Karl,” Jones said. “He’s just at a different level. If (Richardson) plays him first round, that would be a pretty tough match.”
Reach Sam Brown at 615-259-8232 and on Twitter @SamBrownTN.
Williamson County dominance
Recent Class AAA boys state singles champions
2014, 2015: Steven Karl, Ravenwood
2013: Maxx Lipman, Brentwood
2010, 2011, 2012: Sean Karl, Ravenwood
2006, 2007, 2008: Ian Chadwell, Centennial