Boys state tennis title is the 50th for the school

Mountain Brook High School has more state championships than any other school in the state. And no sport at Mountain Brook has won more state crowns than the tennis program.

The Spartans notched another when the boys claimed the inaugural Class 7A tennis title at Lagoon Park in Montgomery in May. That’s the 50th tennis title for the school.

Head boys and girls coach Susan Farlow has been a part of a bunch of those in her eight seasons heading the program with the able assistance of Wally Nall. This is her seventh state title, with girls titles in 2011, 2012 and 2014 and boys in 2008, 2009, 2010 and now 2015. She’s been coach of the year four times with an overall combined record of 165-20.

The Spartans posted 75 points, with Spain Park and Huntsville tying for second with 35 points.

The Mountain Brook girls were 7A runners-up to Huntsville. The Panthers posted 61 points to Mountain Brook’s 57 and Vestavia Hills’ 50 in a tough, tight battle.

The boys’ win ended a run by Vestavia Hills, which had won four straight boys crowns after a three-year run by the Spartans. Actually, it was Spain Park that thwarted the Rebels from getting back to state, and the Jags ended up tying for second place with Huntsville.

 “Typically, Vestavia is our No. 1 rival, but it has always been a friendly one,” Farlow said. “Our boys and the Vestavia boys have known each other and competed with each other all of their ‘growing-up’ years, taking clinics together from the same local pros and playing against each other in tournaments. If you look back over the years, it’s generally pretty cyclical with Mountain Brook being dominant for a period and then Vestavia having a run. 

 “Spain Park was strong this year with Whalen Merrill leading their team at No. 1. [The Spartans’] Sam Lidikay lost to Whalen both times in close matches during the regular season before beating him at sectionals.”

One key for the boys was sweeping the doubles.

 “That was a huge reason we complied so many points. It was also a personal accomplishment for me and Wally because doubles is something not typically taught by their pros but what we work a lot on in our team practices.”

The individual state champions included Lidikay at No. 1 doubles; Peter Hartman at No. 2 singles and No.  2 doubles; Yates Jackson at No. 3 singles and No. 1 doubles; David Faulkner at No. 4 singles and No. 2 doubles; Will Hargrove at No. 3 doubles; and Paul Jones at No. 6 singles and No. 3 doubles.

On the girls side, Sarah Cooper was No. 2 doubles champion with Ellie Polk, who also was the No. 4 singles champ, and Cele Sullivan won at No. 5 singles.

Mountain Brook High opened in 1966. It won its first of more than 150 state titles in 1969 – in boys tennis.

Farlow passes out the accolades to others as to why Mountain Brook has been so successful over the years in tennis.

 “The kids themselves work hard and have a lot of passion for the game,” she said. “The parents of these student-athletes are very supportive and allow their children every opportunity to excel. And the local pros who have coached these kids for many years — and there are many in town who can claim a professional relationship with one or more of my team members.

 “And the Mountain Brook administration — [Principal] Amanda Hood, [recently retired athletics director] Terry Cooper and [current AD] Benny Eaves — recognize the importance of finding a good balance between academic, athletic and social experiences.”