Six tennis players in Texas high school history have captured the state singles championship four times, but UIL records do not reveal how many of them won with a broken back.

The injury is not as bad as it sounds, but technically that is what Franklin's Austin Klores will deal with when he goes for his fourth straight state title this week at the Penick-Allison Tennis Center in Austin.

Klores recently resumed playing after missing four months because of a stress fracture in his back. The Texas A&M signee rolled over the competition at the District 26-2A and Region IV meets, earning his fourth trip to the state tournament.

If Klores wins two matches Monday and takes the 2A final Tuesday, he will become the third boy -- the first in 45 years -- to win state four times. Four girls claimed four titles, with Kori Sosnowy of Cameron the last to accomplish the feat in 1994.

"Not many people get this opportunity," Klores said. "It would give my town and my school recognition, and that's important to me."

When healthy, Klores plays primarily on the United States Tennis Association junior circuit, in events such as last summer's Grand Slam in College Station. He plays for Franklin High School at district, regionals and state, three events in which he's never lost.

"My goal as a freshman was to win," Klores said. "I didn't expect anything less. I'm pretty stubborn about those kind of things. Whenever I want something, I go for it.

"When I won as a freshman, the first thing that most people said was that I could win four times. I thought that sounded pretty good, but it was a long time away. There was a lot of time between then and now."

The longest four months of those three years might have begun at the end of November, when the fracture was discovered. Klores didn't pick up a racket until April, when he returned to the court. He wasn't able to run or work out, and he added about 15 pounds to his lean 135-pound frame.

Klores enjoyed teaming up with his father to compete in fishing tournaments, but fishing is only a strong No. 2 on his list of favorite sports. He missed tennis.

"I was pretty bummed," Klores said. "Several teachers went and talked to my mom about it. They said I wasn't acting the same, that I was kind of off to my own. I had a lot on my mind."

Klores began to practice about a week before the district tournament, a couple of days after a CT scan was performed on the day Franklin tennis coach Joe Hedrick had to submit his entries for the 26-2A tournament.

"His mom called and said they told him it wouldn't hurt him any worse if he played," Hedrick said. "I asked her if she thought he wanted to go ahead and play, and she said by all means, that was one of the things he really wanted to do."

Klores didn't drop a set in district or regionals. He said he feels refreshed, with little back pain, and is playing as well, or better, than he was playing before the injury.

Hedrick praised Klores' decision to play for Franklin rather than concentrate solely on USTA events.

"He didn't have to play in UIL," Hedrick said. "He played at the USTA level, and he got his scholarship. A lot of kids of his caliber of player, they may not play for their high school. I think it says a lot about the kid that it is something he wants to try to do.

"If he wins, it's going to be important for the town and the school, but I think it's going to be important for him. A few years down the road, I think he's going to look back and say that was pretty cool."

NOTES -- Klores will lead a large contingent of Brazos Valley players at the state tournament. He will play Daniel Huggins of Centerville in the 2A quarterfinal round at 9 a.m. Monday. Huggins is the first player from Centerville to qualify for state.

Franklin's mixed doubles team of Kendra Casey and Jake Russ will attempt to win their second consecutive state title. Russ also qualified for the 2A golf tournament. UIL officials amended the schedule to allow Russ to play both sports, moving the first-round tennis match earlier in the morning and pushing back the tee time for golf.

The area's other entries in the tennis tournament are Cameron's Brittany Fausett in girls singles and four Lexington players: Ben Spencer and Julian Bexley in boys doubles, along with Ally Abshire and Regan Janda in mixed doubles. Abshire and Janda would not meet Casey and Russ until the final.

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