Oklahoma high school tennis: Heritage Hall wins title, Brett Keeling has perfect career
Charlie Zeiders proudly carried a first-place trophy as he left the Oklahoma high school boys state tennis tournament late Saturday night.
The Heritage Hall freshman had a tough start to his high school career, missing seven weeks because of a stress fracture in his hip. But Zeiders’ season took a rapid turn for the better, and he ended it wearing a big smile as he toted his team’s prize out of Oklahoma City Tennis Center.
After a couple of rain delays, the Chargers captured the Class 5A state championship, continuing their record of most titles in Oklahoma high school boys tennis with 23. Tulsa Cascia Hall finished as the runner-up, Tulsa Holland Hall placed third and Ada finished fourth.
“It’s amazing,” Zeiders said. “I honestly can’t even express the feeling. It feels amazing just being out here with these boys; they’re like family.”
It was a total group effort for the Chargers, who garnered 32 team points. Top-seeded Larsen Van Horn won the No. 2 singles title against Gray Broermann of Holland Hall, while Owen Fellrath placed fourth in No. 1 singles. In No. 1 doubles, the top-seeded Heritage Hall tandem of Gray Ferguson and Emerson Ritenour defeated the second-seeded Holland Hall duo of Julian Aaronson and Logan Mahan for the title.
And Zeiders, with his sophomore doubles partner McLoud Buergler, won the No. 2 doubles division. Despite the freshman’s late start to the season, Zeiders and Buergler went undefeated as a duo.
“(Zeiders’) two older brothers played for Heritage Hall, so he’s been around the program so much,” said Heritage Hall coach Mike Bischoff. “Just the work that he put in rehabbing and taking it slow and taking care of his injury and (making) sure we didn’t rush back too soon, he came in and he took right over where his brother left off last year.”
More: Photos: Oklahoma high school boys state tennis championships
Jenks senior Keeling adds third crown to perfect career
Brett Keeling couldn’t explain exactly how he made it happen, but the turnaround was magnificent.
Although the dominant Jenks senior found himself in a four-set deficit early in his state finals match against Reid Rainwater of Edmond North, he rallied in a massive way.
Keeling defeated Rainwater, 7-5, 6-0, to become the 13th Oklahoma high school boys tennis player with three state championships in No. 1 singles.
“I don’t really know where that came from,” Keeling said. “But I played my best tennis at the end.”
He capped a perfect high school career, going 83-0 and rarely giving up sets.
In the finals, Keeling fed off the energy from his large fan club of friends and family members – including a fluffy Goldendoodle named Basil – who sported matching maroon T-shirts bearing his name. During his first-set comeback, Keeling let the emotions wash over him, screaming as he turned to the Jenks crowd.
But when he sealed the win, he quietly celebrated with a subtle fist pump. The job was done. He had achieved perfection, winning the rematch of last year’s state finals against Rainwater.
“They (my loved ones) pulled me through the last match,” Keeling said. “It was great. I probably wouldn’t have been able to win the last match if it wasn’t for all of them.”
Keeling led Jenks to a first-place sweep. With 36 points, the Trojans won the Class 6A title. Edmond North followed with 26 points, Edmond Memorial tallied 23 and Tulsa Bishop Kelley had 12.
More: Oklahoma high school track & field: Edmond Memorial girls claim Class 6A state title
More top storylines
● Crossings Christian claimed the Class 4A state title. Riverfield Country Day School (Tulsa) placed second, Classen SAS finished third and Byng came in fourth.
● Second-seeded freshman stars Trenton Kanchanakomtorn and TJ Shanahan reached the podium in their state tournament debuts. Kanchanakomtorn defeated Luke Bishop of Edmond Memorial to place third in Class 6A No. 1 singles. Shanahan was the Class 5A No. 1 singles runner-up, winning every match this season except for the finals against top-seeded James Benien of Tulsa Cascia Hall. Benien, who was the runner-up to Harry Zeiders of Heritage Hall last season after dealing with body cramps in the finals, rolled to a 6-1, 6-1 victory in this year's championship.
● Ian Wu of Classen SAS won the Class 4A No. 2 singles championship. Although J.P. Dillon of Crossings Christian claimed a 7-6 first set in the finals, Wu rallied to win the second and third, 6-3, 7-6.
More: What to know about the 2023 Oklahoma high school spring sport championships
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma HS tennis: Heritage Hall wins title, Keeling goes undefeated
