West's Browning wins individual state title

By: From staff reports | SCNow
Published: May 18, 2008

COLUMBIA — A week after winning their second straight state championship, the West Florence tennis team completed its own version of the high school triple crown.
Junior Bobby Browning won all three of his matches Saturday to earn the Class 3A/4A individual state championship.
Senior Pruitt Williams also won both of his matches to take the consolation bracket title.
Browning is just the second West Florence player to earn the individual title under the current format. Mitch Sprengelmeyer, Florence Athletic Hall of Fame member, was the other. He won two titles in 1991 and 1993.
“Today was a real grind with the three matches,” Browning said. “I was able to win two tiebreakers in that first match, beat the second guy who was pretty even with me and then finally pull out the last set to win the title.”
Browning defeated Ben Barnett of Spartanburg 7-6, 7-6 to win the first match before taking care of Myrtle Beach’s Chip Cox 6-1, 6-3 to advance to the championship.
He defeated Kyle Koch of Chapin 6-4, 7-5 to take home the hardware.
“As the No. 1 overall seed, I know Bobby had a lot of pressure on him, and people were gunning for him every match,” West Florence coach Charles Nelson. “But he came through. This is kind of icing on the cake for all of us.”
Williams won his first match against Mauldin’s Jacob Behal 2-6, 1-0 after Behal had to retire from an injury. He then defeated Berkeley’s Dirk Bair for the first time in his career, 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 to earn the consolation championship.
“I was down 5-1 in the tiebreaker, but really settled down and focused and came back to win,” Williams said. “This is always a really hard tournament to win. I’m glad both Bobby and I were able to win, and we didn’t have to face each other.
“Can’t think of a better way to go out as a senior.”
Browning and Williams also made all-state for the third straight year, something only Sprengelmeyer had accomplished before at West.
“It’s just been a phenomenal year all-around,” Nelson said. “Back-to-back state titles, three players in the individual tournament and two wins? With all of the great teams we’ve had over the years, I think this team really stands out on its own now.”

West's Browning wins individual state title

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