CovCath sophomore Hussey wins state tennis title
Written by Richard Skinner
May 18, 2013 | cincinnati.com
LEXINGTON — Austin Hussey has long wanted to have bragging rights in his house over his mother, Kara
(Molony) Hussey, who is one of the most successful women’s players in Greater Cincinnati history, and after
Saturday he may have earned those rights.
Hussey, a sophomore at Covington Catholic, accomplished something his mother fell just short of doing by winning
the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state singles title with a 6-4, 7-5 win over St. Xavier sophomore
Brandon Lancaster at the Boone/Downing Tennis Complex at the University of Kentucky.
Both players battled severe cramping issues late in the second set, and with Lancaster having rallied from 4-0 down
in the second set to tie it at 5-5 it appeared as if Hussey may not be able to continue after he crumpled to the court in
pain after trying to put away an overhand.
Hussey, the No. 3 seed, hobbled back to his feet, then caught a bit of a second wind to break Lancaster’s serve and
then hold serve for the win.
“At 5-2 (in the second set) I started cramping really bad and he was already cramping so I tried to hide it,” said
Hussey. “It got to a point where I had to call the trainer. I was just trying to do anything at that point to win the
match.”
CovCath coach Al Hertsenberg admitted he was worried Hussey might not be able to finish the match.
“Two points away up 5-2 I really thought Brandon was fading, but then Austin faded quickly,” said Hertsenberg.
“He wanted to finish that game, but then got the trainer and at that point I really was worried if he cramped so much
there’s only a five-minute recovery period.
“I’ve coached long enough that I know if you get these kids back out there they’ll get a second wind, because the
body will adjust. I just didn’t know if he’ll run out of time. That’s a gut check. He found a way to win that.”
Hussey, who had earlier on Saturday upset No. 1 seed and defending state champion Sean Donohue of St. Xavier,
6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals, had full control of the championship match up to the point he started to cramp.
“Austin’s very difficult to scout, because he has so many weapons,” said Hertsenberg. “He can make an adjustment
five times in each game.”
Hussey had lost to Davenport, a senior, in last year’s quarterfinal round 6-3, 6-1, and it was a pep talk from his
mother after the semifinal win that got him mentally prepared for the championship match.
“It was big to play Donohue and pull it out, but me and my mom talked about that in the car and she kept telling me I
had to finish it,” said Hussey. “Now that I did I’m going to tease her about it a lot that I won a state singles (title).
She got me to this point and I’m so thankful to her getting me this far.”
Kara was singles runner-up in 1995 while playing at Notre Dame Academy, although she later won a doubles title
with her sister Lyndsey in 1997.
“He has always wanted bragging rights so now I guess he gets them,” said Kara, who is a former Women’s Tennis
Association Pro Tour ranked player, has 11 Cincinnati Metrobe politan Titles and is in the Cincinnati Tennis Hall of
Fame.
Jim Roebker, Class of 2010, won back to back state titles in 2009 and 2010.