Rockhurst Unbeaten for Second Straight Missouri Class AA State Championship

Rockhurst, the 6th place finisher at the 2014 DecoTurf High School Tennis Team Championships, recently claimed their second straight Missouri Class AA State Championship. The Eagles lost a total of just 10 games in the five match run for the state title. The championship was the state record 17th state team title for Rockhurst. 

“A lot of other people put high expectations on this team. We knew that everyone would be gunning for us. But they kept their focus all season and we played great tennis here. We played some of our best tennis on the biggest day of the year,” Rockhurst coach Zach Frisch said. The Hawklets got wins from Jack Evans, Joe O'Connor, Patrick Michaelis and Jacob Moore before St. Louis signee John Nogalski Jr clinched the state title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory. Nogalski said “It was great to be the final and clinching match. I did not stall but it was so cool that everyone came over to me court and celebrated.” Creighton signee Alex Koca, Rockhurst's No. 1 singles player, had his match suspended once the team match was clinched.

“I knew that the expectations were high since we had everyone returning from the championship team this year. They came after us but we responded well. We were on the courts two and a half hours every day in preparation for this season. We worked hard and this was the reward. It was great to close out our high school career with another championship.” senior Alex Koca said.

Rockhurst wasn't content with just a team title though as the Hawklets went on to claim both the singles and doubles state title as well. Senior Alex Koca, who had to withdraw from the 2013 singles championships to have his appendix removed, battled his way to a 6-4, 6-3 victory over previously unbeaten Micah Klousia of Glendale. Rockhurst had a pair of teams battle for the doubles state championship as juniors Joe O’Connor and Jack Evans saved a pair of championship points in a third-set tie-breaker and defeated teammates and defending champions John Nogalski and Jacob Moore 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-6).

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/high-school/other-missouri-prep-sports/article443686/Rockhurst%E2%80%99s-Alex-Koca-wins-Class-2-tennis-championship.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/sports/high-school/other-missouri-prep-sports/article434844/Rockhurst-tennis-team-dominates-Class-2-seizes-state-title.html#storylink=cpy