Titles and honors are great. But the biggest thing Brasier and James wanted was to have fun.
“It was a really fun season,” James said. “We had a lot of good memories together, and that’s what is most important.”
In 11 postseason matches — district, bi-district and state — the pair only dropped one set.
That one set came in the district championship match last October, when they faced off with Camas teammates Nathan Chen and Kyle Wen.
After breezing through the first set 6-0, Brasier and James tried to have fun in the second set, attempting some difficult shots, trick shots. Chen and Wen took the second set 6-3.
Then Brasier and James won the third set, 6-0.
“We have fun,” James said. “We try not to do too much weird stuff but … sometimes we will mix in weird shots.”
Brasier said: “But we try to keep it serious, too.”
“Serious, but interesting,” James added.
When they are not on the tennis court, Brasier and James like to hang out, maybe get something to eat. Chick-fil-A is a favorite spot.
“But we play a lot of tennis,” Brasier said. “Tennis is the big main thing that we do.”
And that includes table tennis, or ping pong.
Who wins there?
“I do, every single time,” James said. “He’s never beaten me.”
“That’s not true,” Brasier interjected. “When you were 12 …”
“Yeah, when he was 12, he actually beat me,” James added. “But ever since then …”
Opponents at the state tournament can relate to that feeling.
Brasier and James dropped only six games in four matches at the state tournament. And they captured the state championship with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Jacob Tan and Herkey Briggs of Bellarmine Prep.
The decision to play doubles this high school season started last summer where the two friends spend so much of their time — on the tennis court.
“Basically, we were just hitting one day,” James said. “And we were like ‘You want to play together?’ And we both said yes.”
And the rest was history for the two Camas juniors.
SINGLES
Rohan Thawani, sr, Union: 4A GSHL singles player of the year won the district title and was runner-up at bi-district to earn a third state berth.
Aidan Bucerzan, sr, Skyview: Placed eighth at state, was fifth at 4A bi-district and a 4A Greater St. Helens League first-team player.
Lucas Walburn, so, Columbia River: Placed fourth at state, won the 2A district title and was 2A GSHL singles player of the year.
DOUBLES
All-Region players of the year: Aidan Brasier and Tommy James, juniors, Camas
Nathan Chen, sr, and Kyle Wen, sr, Camas: They reached 4A state semifinals, falling to eventual state champion and teammates Aiden Brasier and Tommy Jones. Chen and Wen placed sixth at state and were 4A GSHL first-teamers in doubles.
Fuller Beyer, sr, and Trent Sarvela, sr, Columbia River: They placed fourth at 2A state, scoring a pair of loser-out wins after falling in the quarterfinals. They also won 2A district title, and were 2A Greater St. Helens League first-team selections in doubles.
