Skyview junior Jonathan Hutley is pictured at The Columbian in Vancouver on Friday, May 31, 2019. (Alisha Jucevic/The Columbian) Photo Gallery
When all was said and done, Skyview junior Jonathan Hutley placed fifth in singles at the 4A state tennis tournament.
It was one place higher than the player who beat him in the first round and sent him to the consolation side of the bracket.
Tennis can be funny that way.
“I know, that’s crazy,” he said.
Hutley finished strong in his first trip to state in May following a fall season when he was 4A Greater St. Helens League singles player of the year, the 4A district singles champion, and third at the 4A bi-district tournament. He can also add The Columbian’s All-Region boys tennis player of the year to his accomplishments.
“My game has improved a ton (since the fall) because I’ve been playing at the University of Portland three to four days a week,” Hutley said. “I’ve gotten stronger too. I can compete with the better players.”
Quick hits with 2019 All-Region boys tennis player of the year Jonathan Hutley of Skyview
Video
Skyview coach Jay Gowen said Hutley’s rise in confidence on and off the court was the key to success.
“His greatest improvement was in his mental game,” Gowen said. “He demonstrated both the ability to come from behind and win in games and sets, but also to maintain the pressure and play loose and relaxed with a lead.
“As his confidence has improved, his game has improved.”
No place better than at the state tournament to show that improvement.
After a 6-3, 6-1 loss to Bryan Khoo of Skyline in the first round, Hutley won two loser-out matches. He held off Etienne Chaillot of Walla Walla 7-5, 6-1, and then beat Connor Scott of Newport 6-4, 6-3. Scott had placed fifth in singles 2018 and seventh in doubles in 2017.
What got Hutley through to that fifth-place match?
“I just didn’t want to be out of the tournament,” he said of playing Scott.
His final match was against Luke Andrewjeski of Wenatchee, a doubles state qualifier in 2018. The first set got to a tiebreaker and Hutley fell behind 5-1.
“I was super confident in that match,” Hutley recalled. “I played with a lot of intensity. I just felt the whole time that I was the better player and could win.”
Win he did, rallying back from the deficit to win the tiebreaker 9-7 and then the second set 6-3.
Meanwhile, Khoo reached the semifinals before finishing sixth.
Hutley said one factor in his rise to success has been from playing USTA tournaments in the offseason.
“It’s really good experience because sometimes you’ll face easy players and sometimes players way better than you,” he said. “That just helps build your game.”
All in the quest to place one spot higher.
Rest of the All-Region team
Elijah Nelson, Prairie
The freshman won 3A district title and was runner-up at bi-district. 3A GSHL singles player of the year.
Kyle Mosier / Jake Flentke, Union
Placed third at 4A state in May. Won 4A district and bi-district titles in the fall. Flentke was half of the 4A GSHL doubles team of the year, and Mosier was first-team singles.
Vincent Hu / James Bertheau, Mountain View
Placed fourth at 3A state. Won 3A district and bi-district titles; 3A GSHL doubles team of the year.
Akash Prasad / Jacob Gianan, Camas
Sophomore tandem placed fourth at 4A state. District and bi-district runner’s up, first team 4A GSHL doubles.
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