FISHERS — Southmont senior Adam Cox couldn’t have asked for a better birthday present on Saturday afternoon. On his 18th birthday Cox competed in the Regional final at Fishers High School, the same spot, where he saw his junior season come to an end. This time Cox wasn’t going to let history repeat itself. In a match against Richmond senior Jaden Hollingsworth, Cox did as he’s done all season... just win. He defeated Hollingsworth 6-1, 6-4 for the Regional title and punched his ticket to the State Quarter-Finals.
“It’s just an overwhelming feeling,” Cox said of his Regional title. “Winning the sectional was harder than it was last year and honestly coming into this year I didn’t know if I’d get back here. Doing it two years in a row is very difficult to do. To be able to come back this year and win it just means a lot to me. To do it on my birthday felt extra awesome.”
Cox cruised in the first set, but Hollingsworth wasn’t going to go down without a fight. The Richmond senior controlled most of the second set and led 4-3. However Cox had been in situations like this plenty of times before and knew he wasn’t going to panic. The stud senior, who’s record now sits at 23-0 on the season went on to win the next three games in convincing fashion.
“Tennis is a sport where you’re going to make mistakes,” Cox said. “I just continued to have confidence in myself and was able to re-adjust and was able to get back on track just fine.”
Southmont coach Nathan Poynter at this point in the season notes how Cox has just been laser focused this last few weeks as he knows what’s at stake.
“He’s just zoned in right now and you can tell that from how he’s playing,” Poynter said. “He comes ready to play and is really striking the ball well. If he continues to come out and play relaxed and play hard like he has been, we’ll be in good shape.”
With his ticket punched to the state finals, Cox becomes just the second player in Montgomery County history to qualify for state finals, joining Poynter’s brother Brian who made it back in the early 80’s.
“It’s a big achievement for him and he should be very proud of what he’s accomplished,” Poynter said. “I know I’m proud of him and how hard he’s worked to get to this point.”
The quarter-finals will take place on Friday afternoon at 2 pm at Park Tudor High School in Indianapolis. The bracket is yet to be revealed so it’s still unknown who Cox will have to play. Nonetheless both Cox and Poynter are looking forward to Friday.
“It’s going to be an experience for sure with the competition definitely being a step higher,” Cox said. “It’ll be a learning curve, but I’m excited to go in there with an underdog mentality.”
Poynter notes how Cox will playing with nothing to lose because not many kids get to experience a state finals every year.
“I think we’ll have him in that right mentality of there is nothing to lose at this point,” he said. “You go over there, play and just have a really good time, and play your heart out. It always helps him I know when he looks over and sees all of his family and friends that come out to support him. He’ll be ready Friday to go out there and just play hard.”
