High school boys tennis: Lone Peak rallies to win 6A crown

Lone Peak tennis players celebrate in a huddle after winning the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Halfway through the 6A boys state tennis tournament Saturday afternoon, American Fork coach Jason Herrud had his team where it needed to be win the state championship.

With three matches remaining, his squad needed to just win one – all against Region 3 rival Lone Peak – and the Cavemen would have their second straight title.

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Fortune, however, went the other direction and the Knights emerged on top. After double-checking the scores, tournament officials showed Lone Peak with 57 points, followed by American Fork with 56.

Skyridge took third place with 35 points, followed by Bingham (25) and Davis (18).

“It feels like the opposite of last year,” said Lone Peak coach Roger Baumgartner, whose team has won six crowns in the last 10 years but finished in second place to American Fork last year by the slimmest margin that was decided by the last match.

“Our region is the toughest in the state and we battle all season and it usually leads to this. We had to have our seniors come through and the end, and it was just enough.”

American Fork’s Camden Johnson is congratulated after winning in a 6A tennis match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Bingham’s Davis Aubrey competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak tennis players celebrate in a huddle after winning the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Bingham’s Davis Aubrey competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Bingham’s Davis Aubrey competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson competes in 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Bingham’s Davis Aubrey competes in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson goes down with a muscle pull during a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Skyridge competes in a 6A doubles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Spectators watch a 6A singles match at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak tennis players celebrate in a huddle after winning the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson is surrounded by his teammates after winning the 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson and Bingham’s Davis Aubrey rest between sets in a 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak tennis players celebrate after winning the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak’s Ashton Cahoon is hugged by his coach after winning in a 6A doubles tennis match against Skyridge at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak’s Everett Lee and Ashton Cahoon compete in 6A doubles tennis at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News Lone Peak tennis players celebrate in a huddle after winning the 6A boys tennis championships at Liberty Park in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson competes against Bingham’s David Aubrey in 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News American Fork’s Braeden Johnson celebrate after beating Bingham in 6A singles match in Salt Lake City on Saturday, May 9, 2026. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

After Braeden Johnson’s gutty win over Davis Aubrey of Bingham in No. 1 singles, it was going to be difficult for anyone to displace that as the top story of the day.

Both Johnson and Aubrey needed medical attention due to cramping that made a portion of their match a battle of attrition. Both athletes had to be helped by trainers as they tried to compete under sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s.

When it finally ended, Johnson rallied for a 0-6, 7-5, 7-5 decision. That win, as well as teammate Camden Johnson’s march through No. 2 singles, gave the Cavemen a hefty lead.

“Still three matches to go,” Herrud said at the time. “If Lone Peak can win them all, it’s theirs.”

Unlike most sporting events, where the score and/or time is easily accountable, the state tennis tourney is a guessing game until the final event.

“We’re all counting in our heads the best we can,” said Baumgartner, “but you also have to pay attention to the matches, and that’s certainly where we want the kids focused.”

They also had to be concerned about their health because each of the final matches went three sets.

Second-seeded Levi Johnson then came through in No. 3 singles, preventing American Fork from sweeping all of the singles divisions with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-2 victory.

Then the Lone Peak team of Luke Miller and Cache Garner beat American Fork’s Sam Fairbanks and Sam Karras 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and Ashton Cahoon-Everett Lee edged Phillip Steed-Drew Jacobsmeyer to end the long day.

Only determining the outcome lasted longer because tourney officials had to carefully count the results of the 4A state tournament going on at the same time and then double-check the scores of this one-point difference between neighboring Utah County schools with a long history and, according to Baumgartner, even friendship.

“We have a lot of respect for American Fork,” he said. “Their athletic program has a long history and is one of the best and we always know we’re going to get their best.”

Lone Peak, however, is catching up. The school opened in 1997 and, according to assistant principal Cameron Dickson, Saturday’s trophy marked the 101st state title in school history.

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