Bees’ post season play off to strong start with wins in Big X Conference tournament

FAIRMONT — Future hall-of-famer and former St. Louis Cardinals star Albert Pujols once said, “it’s not how you start the season, it’s how you finish. You don’t play to put up numbers, you play to win.”

Time and time again, all season long, the East Fairmont Bees boys’ tennis team has delivered in the biggest moments. While finishing the regular season with a 14-1 record is certainly an impressive feat, though, they’re not even close to done just yet.

With the start of the Big X Conference tournament on Monday afternoon, the Bees entered the competition with every competitive player on the roster receiving a first-round bye in the singles tournament, and as a unit, started postseason play as the No. 1 seed.

In doubles play, the team is also seeded No. 1 in each of the three doubles competitions in which they will play. First round byes have been guaranteed in those matchups as well.

On Monday evening in singles matches, all four players for East Fairmont (Hunter Bragg, Haydyn Dudash, Kollin Maxey, and Isaiah Ferrell) won their respective matches. Bragg, who is the No. 1 seeded player, finished his singles round with a score of 8-2 over his opponent.

Dudash, the No. 2 seed for the Bees, won his match 8-0, while Maxey (No. 3) and Ferrell (No. 4) each won their singles competitions by scores of 8-1 and 8-0.

Heading into the tournament, Bragg and Dudash, also doubles partners, were a combined 28-0 when playing as the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the regular season. In doubles, the pair went into the postseason with a record of 14-0.

On Tuesday, with matches beginning as early as 8 a.m., the Bees continued to hang tough against conference opponents throughout the early morning and afternoon. As a result, Bragg and Dudash finished as conference champions in doubles play. Bragg finished as the runner-up in singles competition.

Following Tuesday’s victories, Bragg seemed please with his results, and had nothing but praise for Dudash and the rest of his team, along with his opponent and off-court friend, Ty Merrill.

“I felt dominant going all the way into the finals in singles,” Bragg said. “I got to play my friend from Lincoln, Ty Merrill in the finals who I have previously beaten. He had an outstanding game and took me in the finals. I told him it was about time he finally got me. In doubles, Haydyn and I only gave up one game out of the three matches we played.

“I ended up being the runner-up in singles and doubles winner. I’m confident in my team and myself for next week’s matches at the Regional tournament. I believe we will make a great showing.”

While Bragg certainly has had a breakout season in his senior year, Dudash, his partner in crime both on and off the court, has had a tremendous final season on the courts as well. Bees’ head coach Scott Reed had nothing but praise for all of his guys, but especially for his senior leaders.

“He’s [Bragg] the best, and my No. 2, Haydyn, is undefeated as well,” Reed said. “We’ve got a good thing going on here.”

With Regional play set to begin on May 5 and running through May 7, Bragg, Dudash, and the Bees hope to replicate last season’s success as postseason play continues. The 2024 squad finished the year as Region I champions in AA/A after defeating cross-town rival North Marion, and Bragg and Dudash were crowned Region I Doubles Champions.

In singles play, Bragg was named Region I AA/A runner-up. His goal is to finish this season as the Region I champion, and ultimately as a state champion before potentially embarking on the next phase of his tennis career.

The 2025 W.Va. state tennis tournament is set to begin on May 15.