CINCINNATI — After winning the opening set of his Division I state singles quarterfinal at Five Seasons Family Sports Club in Cincinnati, St. John’s senior Aidan Williams found himself trailing 5-4 in the second set against Medina Highland sophomore Elijah Hadler.
He didn’t panic and, most importantly, kept his ears open.
“My coaches are very intelligent and they were able to keep me calm and keep me cool,” Williams said. “That’s important when you’re down to not lose focus and to not lose your positive mindset. The match isn’t over until the last shot is hit. Even though I was down, I kept with that confidence and positive attitude.”
Williams recovered to win the second set in a tiebreaker, completing a 6-2, 7-6 (7-5) victory that advances him to a semifinal Saturday against Mason junior Vignesh Gogineni.
The winner will play Cleveland St. Ignatius senior Nate Day or Gahanna Lincoln sophomore Brandon Carpico for the championship.
The state tournament was moved indoors Friday because of bad weather but is expected to be completed Saturday at Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.
Williams lost in a quarterfinal in singles in 2019 and lost in the first round playing doubles at state in 2018.
“It’s surreal honestly,” Williams said. “This was the No. 1 goal, to get to this point. To work so hard to get to this point and get here, it feels so great.”
Williams opened state tournament play by beating Cincinnati Anderson senior Payson Scott 7-5, 6-1.
Gogineni was the champion from the Southwest District sectional and is considered by many to be the favorite to win the title.
"Kind of riding this momentum of getting to the second day but also making sure I’m running my patterns and hitting my shots [will be key Saturday],” Williams said. “I also have to have a high first-serve percentage. I think that’s huge, and hitting outside is going to be different than inside so I’ll have to adjust to the conditions.”
Also competing in Division I was the Findlay doubles team of senior Carson Dale and junior Max Hosey, who lost to junior Mark Karev and freshman Nick Meyers from Cincinnati Sycamore 6-2, 6-1 in the first round.
In the Division II state tournament at Camargo Racquet Club, Bryan junior Jay Fortner opened with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Millersburg West Holmes senior Curtis Wagner.
Then in his quarterfinal, he lost to Pepper Pike Orange sophomore Ben Pomeranets 6-2, 6-1.
Fortner also reached a state singles quarterfinal as a freshman in 2019.
“I’ve had that expectation for myself since I made it to the second round my freshman year,” Fortner said. “You get down here and it’s all about having fun, honestly. The pressure’s off. You made state and I just tried to play as loosely as I could. That match I played in the second round was one of the best matches I’ve had but he’s a great player, a five-star recruit.
“[Against Wagner] I just tried to play loose and I was in a good spot. I was confident and had a bit of a hiccup in the first set when I lost two games in a row, but I finished the match off pretty strong.”
Also competing in Division II singles was Ottawa Hills senior Matt McGee, who lost to Cincinnati Seven Hills freshman Avi Mahajan 6-2, 6-4 in the first round.
First Published May 29, 2021, 2:18 a.m.
