Weber takes fourth at state tennis tourney

Nate Weber wrapped up his senior year with a fourth-place finish at the 4A state tennis tournament held Monday, May 17, at the Umpqua Valley tennis Center, and Tuesday at Marist High School.

Weber (No. 4 seed) faced Jonathan Swenson of Woodburn in the first round. Weber lost the first set 2-6, but buckled down and came back with a 6-1, 6-1, win to claim the victory. Weber has matched up against Swenson three times in his high school career and has tallied victories all three times.

Weber beat Henry Gonvea 7-5, 6-2, in the quarterfinals, which earned him a trip to the semis and the top-four 4A singles players in the state.

Coach Carl Click told The Nugget that the competition got tough in the semifinals.

Weber lost to top seed and eventual state champ Jackson Whittaker. Weber did take several games to deuce, but was unable to take a game off the Marist High School star, and lost 0-6, 0-6.

“Jackson is a machine,” Weber admitted after the match.

Click stated that the third-place consolation match was a hostile environment for Weber. Nate played before a large home crowd of boisterous coaches, players, and adult supporters of Marist’s Lucas Franzen, and fell 2-6, 6-7 (2-7).

Click said, “It was a contentious high school match with several close calls. Even though out-numbered, Nate took on the challenge with the character and integrity he’s shown his entire career. It would have been easy to get flustered and frustrated, but Nate kept his cool, which is as important as any victory.”

Weber finished his senior year with a singles record of 15-4. All four of his losses came to the players who finished in the top three at 4A state, Whitaker, Franzen, and Cascade’s Zach Moore, who took second at state.