Covington Catholic Colonels Triumph at KHSAA Tennis Tournament
In an impressive display of skill and teamwork, the Covington Catholic Colonels dominated the 2025 Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) boys tennis state tournament, securing both the singles and doubles titles. This marks a triumphant return for the Colonels, who had previously excelled in the tournament, including a doubles title and a runner-up finish in singles the prior year.
Doubles Championship Highlights
The doubles championship saw Kalei Christensen, a senior who had previously won back-to-back state titles with a different partner, team up with sophomore Blake Hussey. Combining their efforts, Christensen and Hussey navigated through the early rounds of the tournament with remarkable ease, only conceding five sets over four matches.
As the semifinals began, the duo faced their toughest opponents yet, Louisville St. Xavier’s Jacob Ray and Logan Elliott. However, the CovCath pair triumphed with a narrow victory, winning both sets 7-5. Another Covington Catholic duo, sophomores William Tribble and Jacob Kramer, reached the semifinals but were thwarted by Aditya Shah and Walker Bush from St. Xavier, preventing an all-CovCath final.
In the championship match, Christensen and Hussey showcased their tenacity, winning the first set convincingly 6-1. The second set proved challenging, resulting in a tiebreaker. After tying 6-6, they dominated the tiebreak 7-1, sealing their victory with a final score of 6-1, 7-6(7-1).
Singles Championship Achievement
On the singles front, fellow senior Alex Yeager completed the Colonels’ clean sweep by clinching his third state championship. Yeager had a dominant start, winning his opening matches with scores of 6-2, 6-0. However, his path to the finals required more grit, as he encountered tough competition in the quarterfinals and semifinals that both extended to third-set tiebreakers.
In the finals, Yeager faced Landon Ecarma from Christian Academy-Louisville. After losing the first set 3-6, Yeager fought back to even the match by winning the second set in a tiebreaker 7-6(7-3). The final set saw a nail-biting finish, with Yeager narrowly clinching the championship with a score of 3-6, 7-6(7-3), 12-10 as Ecarma sent a crucial shot long, marking a spectacular victory.
Conclusion
This year’s event further emphasizes Covington Catholic’s ongoing reputation as a powerhouse in Kentucky high school tennis, as both players and teams delivered exceptional performances.
