Brother Martin and Mount Carmel halt Class 5A Region IV tennis dynasties

NEW ORLEANS – Brother Martin High School and Mount Carmel Academy won the boys’ and girls’ championships, respectively at the Louisiana High School Athletic Association Class 5A Region IV Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Allstate Sugar Bowl on Monday and Tuesday at the City Park Tennis Center. The Allstate Sugar Bowl has sponsored the tournament for the past 10 years.

Brother Martin upended Jesuit to snap a nine-year run of championships by the Blue Jays, while Mount Carmel’s victory over Dominican snapped a streak of five straight titles. Both Brother Martin and Mount Carmel were second last year – in fact, the Cubs had finished second for the last five years.

The top singles story was in girls’ action as Mount Carmel’s Taylor Garcia successfully captured her fourth straight regional title. Garcia, who will play tennis at Washington & Lee University in the fall, defeated teammate Julia Kapusta in the finals, 6-0, 6-0.

In boys’ singles action, Jesuit’s Jojo Sandoz upended defending champion Ethan Bosch from Brother Martin, 6-0, 6-4.

Brother Martin’s Ben Chanes and Matthew Armbruster teamed up to win the boys’ doubles championship with a 6-2, 6-4 triumph over fellow Crusaders Hunter Kael and Jack Robinson. On the girls’ side, the Mount Carmel tandem of Caroline Arnold and Nikki Bountovinas posted a 6-3, 6-1 championship victory over Kacey Pappas and Katey Brennan, also from Mount Carmel.

Each quarterfinalist in singles and doubles qualified for the LHSAA State Championships to be played next week in Monroe, La. Jesuit has won nine straight state boys’ tennis titles.