Wimberley tennis duals in rare state final match

Peyton Anderson and Cooper Doss knew that their Wimberley High School teammates Tate Murphy and Drew Gonzales were good. The two Wimberley boys’ doubles tennis teams faced off every day in practice and in every tournament finals this year.

What they may not have realized was the team that they were playing was the only team in the state of Texas good enough to beat them.

In what may be the crowning achievement of an athletic year that, from top to bottom, is one of the most successful in Wimberley High School history, the boys’ doubles tennis teams took things to another level. The two teams met in the UIL 4A State Finals for an all-Wimberley championship match up.

“I don’t think it happens very often,” Tennis Coach Lauren Huse said. “You don’t see that every day, but we had seen it every tournament for the last spring season. They played each other in the finals every time. They were used to it. That is what they expected to happen, and that is what they made happen.”

It wasn’t easy. Both teams faced some of the most adversity they had all season.

The mixed doubles team of John Moore and Madisyn Elliott fell in the state quarterfinals to a strong team from Vernon 6-3 and 6-2, which was a third Wimberley doubles team to make the state tournament.

Both boys’ doubles teams rolled over the teams they faced in the state quarterfinals, but then fell behind in the first set of the semi finals. Anderson and Doss lost the first set to a team from Center 6-3 before fighting back to win the second and third sets 6-1 and 6-2. That got one half of the Wimberley duos into the state finals.

Murphy and Gonzalez faced a similar situation. They fell 6-3 to a team from Castleberry. They too fought back quickly to win the next two sets 6-3 and 6-1 meaning that the Wimberley boys’ doubles No. 1 team would face off against the Wimberley boys’ doubles No. 2 team in the state championship.

“Those four boys, they are so competitive with each other even in practice,” Huse said. “We’ll play a fun game, and they will get after it. They are so competitive. They don’t goof off on the court. They want to win no matter what. Having that competition every single day at practice… Most kids get it in the final match of a tournament, but these kids are getting that competitiveness every single day all year. It helps for sure.”

Murphy and Gonzales have won the match up in each tournament finals this season.

“A state championship was their goal,” Huse said. “I like to call them robots, because they are so technically sound in their tennis game. The part that gets them is how they treat each other on the court. You don’t see them get on to each other or roll their eyes. It is always instantaneous lifting each other up and supporting each other… It takes that pressure off of each other. You can see it in the way their body language changes. It is fun to watch.”

Anderson and Doss jumped out to an early lead 5-4 in the first set before the favored Murphy and Gonzales fought back to take the victory 7-5 and eventually 6-4.

“It is a blessing and a curse all at the same time,” Huse said. “I know Peyton and Cooper wanted it. It has been a contentious battle at times. You fight on the court, and you walk off and you are best friends again. It doesn’t matter who is on the other side, you want to win. And they had a chance in the finals... It would have been easy for them, having lost every time in the finals (in previous tournaments) to just stop after that first set and say it’s going to be the same thing. But they didn’t. I have never seen those boys play like they did. That is the best I’ve seen them play against each other or anybody for that matter.”

Murphy and Gonzales also won the sportsmanship award given by the United States Tennis Association for the state tournament. The award is given by tournament staff to the athlete, or in this case athletes, who represent “fairness, respect for one’s opponents, and graciousness in winning or losing.”

All four boys involved are juniors meaning that there is an obvious chance for a repeat.

“Drew and Tate have had more time together,” Huse said. “It goes to show you what a relationship with your doubles partner in tennis will do for you. It is not two singles players on the court. It is Drew knowing Tate can make it to that ball or he can get to this one. I think next year, with a little more time together, Peyton and Cooper may give Drew and Tate a run for their money.”

The 2021-22 State tennis tournament hasn’t been scheduled yet, but you may want to go ahead and mark your calendar anyways.