The Upset Kid Hiland's Brad Mullet stunned a pair of heavy favorites in District play to advance to State tennis finals
Mullet extended his high school tennis career by winning three matches on Saturday, May 21, at the Div. II Ohio University District. The fact that he lost his seeding match the next day did little to dampen his spirits as he prepares to play in a forum he has anticipated for four years.
“Hey, coming into the year my goal was simply to get to Districts, so this is icing on the cake,” said Mullet. “Coming in I felt like I was the total underdog, and had nothing to lose, so I think I was a little looser than the guys I was facing. The pressure is always on the higher seed, so that definitely helped me.”
Mullet is believed to be the first male singles player from Holmes County to qualify for the State tennis tournament. He is unquestionably the first Hiland player to do so, and his groundbreaking performance is one which he will cherish.
“I didn’t know anything about that, and it is a real honor,” said Mullet.
Mullet started his State quest with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Phillip Hart of Waverly, then came back to outlast Ian Rowland of Portsmouth in a nail-biter, winning 7-6 (0), 7-6 (1) in the second round.
“Neither of us ever had more than a one-game lead, and I was actually serving for the win in the first set and he broke me,” said Mullet of Rowland. “Then, for whatever reason, he just wilted in the tie-breakers and I won easily.”
“Brad’s temperament is well suited for that kind of pressure,” said head coach Tom Lee. “He doesn’t get too high or too low, he just goes about his business.”
That high adrenaline charge might have spent some guys, but Mullet seemed to be even more pumped up as he set his sights on Andreas Reichert of Claymont, one of the tournament’s top seeds. Mullet played what Lee said was one of the senior’s finest games of his career, crushing Reichert 6-2, 6-1 to punch his State ticket.
Mullet said he had been watching Reichert play earlier and noted his fiery temperament as he continually yelled at himself. Mullet’s cool and calm stature paid big dividends as he got on a roll and totally flustered Reichert into hitting numerous bad shots.
“I came out pretty strong right off the bat, and was really hitting my serves and forehands well,” said Mullet. “I started to dominate him and he completely lost his head. We had some early rallies, but the more we played the more frustrated he seemed to get.”
Mullet said that with little pressure on himself as a lower seed, he knew he had nothing to lose, and said that there was a certain calmness that came to him, one which produced an odd smile in the face of adversity.
“All through the last two matches, and I don’t have any reason as to why, I just kept thinking this whole thing was funny, kind of surreal,” said Mullet. “I kept looking at coach and smiling and he looked at me in this kind of disbelief. About the only time I got nervous was when I was up 4-1 in the second set in the finals. I remember thinking I better not blow this one.”
On Sunday in the seeding match, Mullet finally had his bubble burst, losing to No. 1 Gabe Seymour of Chillicothe 6-2, 6-1, but finding his way to Columbus was more than enough to remedy any ill effects from that.
“I don’t think people realize how hard it is to get to the State tournament,” said Lee. “There is a reason a lot of really good singles players end up playing doubles. I am really thrilled for Brad, because I know the kind of work he has put in. I just want him to go to State now and play well, win or lose, and hopefully just enjoy the experience, because not many get to have that.”
“I am just happy to be there,” said Mullet. “It’s going to be fun. I came out of one of the easiest Districts, and I know that of the 16 players left I am probably going to be one of the lowest seeds there, but that’s OK. I just want to go play hard, and play like I belong. Even if I get beat early, I know I am going to get to see a lot of great tennis while I am there, so I am going to enjoy the experience.”
In addition to Mullet’s record-breaking performance, Hiland freshman Braxton Mullet also competed in the OU Districts. The freshman dropped his first-round match on Saturday 6-1, 6-0 to Peter Clark of Unioto. The loss stung, but Lee said that the experience was good for the younger Mullet, cousin to Brad, who well could be Hiland’s next hope for a State appearance.
The State tennis tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at Hilliard Davidson High School in Hilliard.