By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Covington Catholic boys' tennis team and coach Al Hertsenberg won a 14th consecutive regional championship earlier this week on their new home courts (Terry Boehmker Photo)
The Covington Catholic boys' tennis team won a regional championship for the 14th consecutive year earlier this week, but where it occurred made this one something special.
The final two rounds of the Region 9 playoffs were held Monday and Tuesday on the new Covington Catholic tennis courts behind the school. The five-year project was completed just in time for the Colonels to christen the courts by sweeping the singles and doubles regional titles to finish on top in the team standings.
"I told our guys on Monday (after the semifinals) that we made history twice," said CovCath coach Al Hertsenberg. "We got to be the first CovCath team to play on these courts and (the first) to have everybody qualify for the finals."
CovCath senior Austin Hussey earned his fourth consecutive regional singles title with a 6-0, 6-0 win over freshman teammate Max Cook. In the doubles final between CovCath team members, Anthony Bosch and Blake Heimbrock defeated brothers Jake and Jared Haught, 4-6, 6-2, 1-0, in a tiebreaker.
"It was really cool," Hussey said of his team sweeping the regional championship matches played on their new home courts. "This place is awesome. I think it means a lot to the team and to our whole school."
Hussey and his teammates had to put the finishing touches on the new courts to get them ready for the final two rounds of the regional. On Saturday, the CovCath players helped coach Hertsenberg put nets across each courts, attach windscreens to the fencing and place aluminum stands for spectators.
Those stands were full when the semifinal matches were played on Monday, according to Hertsenberg.
"The word I had was over 200," he said of the crowd. "It was just an electric experience for the first matches played here."
Hertsenberg began coaching the CovCath tennis team in 1991. Finding places to practice and play home matches was a challenge he faced every season until now. He helped raise money needed to build the tennis complex on property the school acquired to expand its athletic facilities.
Hussey's family was among the donors to the complex. He won the state singles championship in 2013 and was state runner-up last year and he hopes to cap off his high school career by winning a second singles title at the state tournament to be held May 14-16 in Lexington.
"I think I've worked a lot harder this year and I'm more determined," said the University of Kentucky recruit. "Last year was a big awakening for me, and I think that was good for me."
CovCath also qualified to compete in the state team tennis tournament and will host the Region 11 winner in the sectional playoffs on Saturday. The teams will compete in three singles and two doubles matches. One point is awarded to the winner of each match and the first team to get three points advances to the next round in the bracket.
CovCath has never won a sectional in boys' team tennis before, but playing on its new home courts could change that.
"The matches start at 9 a.m. on Saturday so it's pretty early," Hussey said. "If we can get people fired up about it and get as many people as we can out there, I think it would make a huge difference."
Notre Dame and Highlands will compete in the girls' state team tennis tournament on Saturday at Notre Dame. The matches at 9 a.m. will be between Region 9 champion Notre Dame and the Region 11 champion. The matches at 10:30 a.m. will be between Region 10 champion Highlands and the Region 12 champion.
The winners of the morning matches will face each other at 2 p.m. in the sectional final.