Fillmore wins tennis state championship

By TRAVIS METCALF

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS May 12, 2008 10:52 am

— He did it!
Travis Fillmore, Tahlequah High School’s tennis sensation, has won the Class 5A tennis state championship after defeating Eric West of Tulsa Union in the finals, 6-3, 6-2 on Saturday evening in Oklahoma City.
And how will Tahlequah’s newest state champion celebrate?
“I think my parents and I will go out for some ice cream,” Fillmore said. “I like a lot of ice cream but cookie dough is my favorite.”
The Brigham Young University signee breezed through the state tournament and finished his season with a record of 36-4.
His freshman and sophomore year, Fillmore placed third. Last year, Fillmore finished second to the rival West.
However, this time West was just a minor obstacle.
“All year, I’ve been gearing for state,” Fillmore said. “The difference this time than other times before is in other matches, I usually had to play three matches before I faced him. This time I had plenty of time to rest. I was focusing on every point and not letting anything get away. I was serving well.
In Saturday’s semifinal match, Fillmore beat Michael LeMoine, 6-2, 7-6.
On Friday, Fillmore beat beat Brady Henderson of Sapulpa, 6-0, 6-0, and Casey Discaso of Edmond North, 6-3, 6-1.
“I don’t think I’ve quite comprehended what happened,” Fillmore said. “I’m just kind of speechless.”
Sophomore Seth French, making his second straight state tournament appearance, lost in two sets on Friday, ending his season with a record of 14-15.
French lost his first round game to Nick Jordan of Edmond North, 6-3, 2-6, 3-6, then lost to Travis Hill of Sand Springs, 5-7, 7-6, 3-6.
“He played really well,” THS coach Tyler Ashley said. “He had a bad draw in the first round playing the No. 4 seed and Hill is a senior who just didn’t want to lose. He had a fine record. The next two years will be his telling years.”