Rock Bridge was satisfied with its second-place finish Thursday in the Class 2 boys’ tennis state championship. The day featured some of the Bruins most competitive tennis.
“Most of the matches were down to the wire,” Rock Bridge coach Ben Loeb said. “It was just excellent tennis all day.”
Rock Bridge, undefeated at 22-0 entering the final, fell 5-1 to Saint Louis University High.
“SLU was definitely favored based on who they had playing last year,” Loeb said.
Stefan Nosic came from behind to win at No. 4 singles for the Bruins’ only point.
None of the doubles matches were completed after the results from singles determined the winner.
Rockhurst, the 10-time defending state champion, was the Bruins first hurdle in the event at Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. The Bruins stepped up in the semifinal match , ending the Rockhurst streak with a 5-3 victory in what Loeb called “an instant classic dual meet.”
Daniel Lopez (No. 1 singles), Ryan Olsen (No. 2), Nosic (No. 4) and Scott Hawf (No. 5) all won their matches in an epic contest that pushed the championship match back two hours.
But Loeb pointed to the No. 2 doubles match which Lopez and Nosic won 7-5, 2-6, 7-5 as the standout performance of the victory.