Franklin senior Austin Klores made history Tuesday, leading a parade of state tennis champions from District 26-2A on a day when Brazos Valley products played to beat the band.

Klores became the seventh player in Texas high school history to capture the state singles championship four times. And for the second consecutive year, Franklin's Kendra Casey and Jake Russ won the Class 2A title in mixed doubles.

Another team from 26-2A, Ben Spencer and Julian Bexley of Lexington, captured the boys doubles crown to become the school's first state tennis champions in 10 years.

Klores became the first player since 1994, and the first boy in 45 years, to win a state singles championship in all four years of high school. The Texas A&M signee finished the four-year feat even though he just recently resumed playing after missing four months because of a fracture in his back.

He breezed through two matches Tuesday, beating Alex Layfield of Kerens 6-1, 6-1 in the semifinal round and topping Hunter Lloyd of Tuscola Jim Ned 6-2, 6-4 in the final.

"Especially since I haven't been able to play tennis that much, it just felt good to be out on the court," Klores said. "It was satisfying for sure. For three years, everyone asked me if I was going to win four in a row. Now I can finally say 'Yes.'"

Franklin coach Joe Hedrick praised Klores for his decision to play high school tennis even though he could have earned a college scholarship by playing only on the junior circuit.

"My school has helped me out a lot, with my missing school to play tennis," Klores said. "It makes me feel good that I can get them a little recognition."

For the second consecutive year, Russ and Casey added to Franklin's gold-medal haul. They dropped only two games in their morning semifinal, and then defeated Bryce and Shayla Estes of Mason 6-1, 6-2 in the championship match.

"It's great when you win a state championship, but it kind of puts a target on your back, too," Hedrick said. "I was kind of worried all year about that, but the kids responded great."

The state title capped two busy days for Russ. On Monday, he and Casey started their quarterfinal match early so he could join the Franklin boys team at the state golf tournament. After the tennis match was suspended, Russ played golf in the rain, then returned in the late afternoon to finish the tennis match.

Casey and Russ have not lost to a 2A team since they joined forces two years ago, and they were undefeated overall this season. Both juniors, they will have an opportunity to shoot for three state titles next season.

"It was a good experience, especially going undefeated this year," Russ said. "I think we're going to stay in mixed doubles. I'll try to talk her into it."

Lexington's tandem of Bexley and Spencer completed a year-long mission. They were tested in a 6-3, 7-5 semifinal victory over a team from Floydada, then rolled over Brit Campbell and Joel Hernandez of Big Lake Reagan County 6-3, 6-1 in the title match.

Spencer and Bexley lost in the state semifinals last year.

"That was more incentive for this year," Bexley said. "Once we got a taste of it, we set a goal to come and win state. We practiced all year, but mainly over the summer, to make this happen."

Lexington's last state tennis championship came in 1998, from the doubles team of Chris Upston and Luke Spencer, who is Ben's older brother.

"We're real competitive," Ben Spencer said. "I think I can say I'm the best one in the family now, but I'm not sure he would tell you that, even if he is real happy for me."

One other player from the Brazos Valley reached Tuesday's semifinal round. Cameron's Brittni Fausett saw her season end with a 7-5, 6-2 loss to eventual 3A state champion Nicole Long of Liberty.

The area's other state qualifiers, Lexington mixed doubles team Ally Abshire and Reagan Janda, along with Centerville boys singles player Daniel Huggins, were eliminated in Monday's quarterfinals. Huggins fell to Klores, as did every other opponent in four years of state competition.

"He's in a very exclusive club," Hedrick said. "I think it's going to be a long time before anybody does it again."

• Larry Bowen's e-mail address is larry.bowen@theeagle.com.