Mitchell Vegas of Spanish Fort High School earned Press-Register Boys Tennis Player of the Year honors after winning his fourth consecutive 5A state title in No. 1 singles and also claimed the No. 1 doubles title with partner Barry Booth. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell) Spanish Fort junior Mitchell Vegas took another step toward his ultimate tennis goal in 2012.
Vegas won the Class 5A state title in No. 1 singles and No. 1 doubles -- the fourth consecutive season he's captured the individual No. 1 singles championship -- and helped the Toros finish No. 2 in the team competition.
"I like playing high school tennis because even though this is an individual sport, in high school it's all about the team," Vegas said. "Sometimes, I win (my match) and we lose, and I feel like I lost.
"We had the highest finish we've ever had this year," he added. "We had the highest work ethic we've ever had. We got a good result, too."
For his performance, he is the Press-Register boys tennis player of the year. Several other players enjoyed stellar 2012 campaigns, including UMS-Wright's Bronson Wessinger, winner of the 4A No. 1 singles title, and Bayside Academy's Alexander Dyas, who won state titles in No. 1 singles and doubles in 1A-3A.
But no one was better than Vegas.
He arrived as Spanish Fort's No. 1 player as an eighth-grader. This season, he went undefeated in singles and joined No. 2 singles player Barry Booth to win the No. 1 doubles state championship. He's been undefeated in singles competition for each of the last two seasons.
Like most elite players, he plays the junior circuit throughout the summer and fall. He hopes his college options will become clearer as he hits the courts throughout the Southeast this summer.
The 6-foot-2 Vegas worked on his serve-and-volley game this spring and will likely use the more aggressive style in junior play.
"It helps me finish points off quicker," he said.