Williamstown Isaac Harris celebrates a point with No. 1 doubles partner Brady Woodard during Friday’s Division II team championship match against Charleston Catholic as part of the state tennis tournament in Charleston. (Photo by Kerry Patrick)

CHARLESTON — The what ifs are part of the game.

And the Williamstown boys tennis program is hashing out a few what ifs had its top singles player Brady Woodard not suffered a hip injury during the early portion of his match in the championship round of Friday’s Division II team competition as part of this weekend’s West Virginia High School State Tournament.

Prior to receiving treatment for the injury, Woodard and his No. 1 doubles partner Isaac Harris played their best match of the year despite losing 9-7. Woodard continued to be on top of his game in the early-going against Charleston Catholic’s Winston Hunter and was on serve leading 3-2 when he asked for medical attention.

When play resumed, Hunter reeled off the next six games and with one match at No. 3 singles still in progress, the Irish had clinched a title with the 4-2 victory.

“Those things happen — it’s just a part of tennis,” Woodard said. “After the treatment, my goal was to finish the point fast because I couldn’t really run too much. It worked for a little bit, but it started getting worse. I felt a little bit during the doubles match, but it got way worse during singles.

“I felt it at the beginning of the singles match and thought I can get through this. But after the first couple of games I needed the trainer to wrap me up. On a good day, this would definitely have been a great match to play. I think it would be a really close match.”

Also seeking a possible championship in the team competition were the Parkersburg boys in Division I. At the Charleston Catholic Athletic Facility, top-seeded George Washington won two of the three doubles matches then clinched the championship at 4-2.

The Big Reds had a quick turnaround from their semifinal win the previous night when the last match didn’t end until 10 p.m. Downtime consisted simply of a meal and sleep then right back on the courts at 8 a.m.

“The boys knew they would have to give every effort they had, every ounce they had left,” PHS coach Eric Stanley said. “We knew we were going to be tired this morning, but they came out, warmed up and had energy every singles match and doubles match. They did exactly what we asked of them. And they battled hard.”

The Big Reds graduate six seniors, including varsity starters Cale Stutler, Jack McLean and twins brothers Alex and Christian Marshall. For the second straight day, Stutler found himself in a tiebreaker. On Friday, Stutler and his No. 2 doubles partner Isaac Stephens dropped the first three points of the tiebreaker then won seven of the last eight points for a 9-8 (7-4) victory.

On Saturday at No. 2 singles, Stutler trailed George Washington’s Anshu Haricharan 3-0 before pulling off a 9-8 (7-5) win.

“Making it to the state finals is something I’ve been reeling about since my freshman year,” Stutler said. “Our region is so competitive. It’s insane. So being able to accomplish something I’ve been looking forward to and working so hard for, it feels great.

“Even if we didn’t win, everybody out there gave everything they had. And that’s what it means to be a Big Red.”

Stutler went 2-for-2 in his matches against GW. At No. 2 doubles, Stutler and Stephens won 8-3. After feeling something pop in his knee during Thursday’s deciding match against University, Stephens was literally put in a wheelchair and taken when the team returned to their hotel.

According to Stutler, nothing appeared out of the ordinary with Stephens several hours for their match against GW.

“Looking back, this season was about the pure joy and love these coaches have for these kids,” coach Stanley said. “We lose a solid group of six, so next year we will be different. For a lot of them, they knew this was their chance. And they took advantage of it, and they did the best they could.”

As for Williamstown, freshman Xavier Graeber at No. 3 singles was holding his own and tied at 6-6 when Charleston Catholic clinched the team title. The freshman joined No. 3 doubles partner JP Strobl for an 8-2 win.

Playing his singles match across the walkway from Woodard’s match, Graeber noticed his teammate getting treated by a medical trainer.

“I didn’t really know what was going on — I saw they called the medical for Brady, but I didn’t really know what was happening,” Graeber said.

Earlier in doubles, Woodard and No.1 doubles partner Isaac Harris played perhaps their finest match of the season despite a 9-7 defeat. All four individuals held serve until Charleston Catholic broke to take its first lead at 8-7.

Hunter, a sophomore at CCHS, recorded a winner at the net for the final two points of the match. Trailing 3-2 at No. 1 singles, Hunter did notice a change in Woodard’s mobility following the medical treatment.

“I knew that (Brady) was hurting, so I was trying to move him — unfortunately, that was the strategy,” Hunter said. “That doubles match, we played extremely well and managed to pull it out. We knew that would be the hardest match.”

With plenty of tennis still ahead of him where he was seeded No. 3 in singles and No. 2 in doubles, Woodard was going to keep common sense in play.

“I’m going to try and play — hopefully my hip feels fine,” Woodard said. “If it gets worse, I’m OK with not playing because my health is more important than just a tennis journey.”

Supplying another point to the Williamstown total was senior Brady Anderson winning 8-2 at No. 4 singles.

Williamstown coach Diana Leo brought both the girls and boys to the team competition at the state level. The girls were eliminated in the semifinal round on Thursday.

“It’s just a privilege to keep doing this year after year,” Leo said. “We have been here for the last five years and been on these courts. And we hope to continue doing that.”

Division I (Boys)

George Washington 4, Parkersburg 2

Singles

Alex Michael (GW) def. Christian Marshall 8-1

Cale Stutler (PHS) def. Anshu Haricharan 9-8 (7-5)

Ali Elkhansa (GW) def. Alex Marshall 8-3

Isaac Stephens (PHS), Vibhu Haricharan tied 2-2 when GW clinched championship

Doubles

Michael-Elkhansa (GW) def. Marshall-Marshall 8-5

Sutler-Stephens (PHS) def. A. Haricharan-Street 8-3

V. Haricharan-LukeMcCallister (GW) def.Thomas Lindenmuth-Jack McLean 8-4

Division 2 (Boys)

Charleston Catholic 4, Williamstown 2

Singles

Winston Hunter (CC) def. Brady Woodard 8-3

Adbul Bali (CC) def. Isaac Harris 8-0

Xavier Graeber (WHS), Alistair Gould tied 6-6 when Charleston Catholic clinched championship

Brady Anderson (WHS) def.Matteen Summers 8-2

Doubles

Hunter-Gould (CC) def. Harris-Woodard 9-7

Bali-Summers (CC) def. Anderson-Noah Mourat 8-2

Graeber-JP Strobl (WHS) def. Henry Adams-Sabian Raship 8-2