The Lewiston junior fought back from a dropped first set against Mt. Blue’s Evan Backus to win in three sets, helping the Blue Devils win the Class A North regional 3-2 in June. It was a rare three-set match for Ouellette, who was strong all season for a Lewiston team that entered the playoffs with the North’s No. 3 seed and finished the season as the state’s runner-up.

Backus was an equally capable competitor, but Ouellette beat his peer when the pressure was the highest. Ouellette closed out Backus 6-4, 6-3 after dropping a close first set 7-6 (7-5). His comeback came one round after another rebound from a slow start. Lewiston’s No. 1 singles player was down early in the first set to Brunswick’s Dasol Kim before winning in straight sets in the regional semifinals.

All season, Ouellette led the team with consistency, and that play has earned him the honor of Sun Journal All-Region Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year.

“Cole (Oullette) played really well,” Lewiston coach Tom LeBlond said in the spring. “When he’s moving well, he plays really well. He needs to get into a rhythm and he really did. Cole’s a real smart player.”

2016 Sun Journal All-Region Boys’ Tennis

FIRST TEAM

Cole Ouellette, Lewiston, Sr., Singles

Evan Backus, Mt. Blue, Sr., Singles

Tmo Teckenberg, Lewiston, Sr., Singles

Cliff Greco, St. Dom’s, Sr., Doubles

Matt Boulet, St. Dom’s, Jr., Doubles

Thomas Marshall, Mt. Blue, Jr., Doubles

Dylan Roberts, Mt. Blue, Sr., Doubles

SECOND TEAM

Francesco Polvara, Mtn. Valley, Sr., Singles

Noah Toussaint, St. Dom’s, Jr., Singles

Sam Blaisdell, St. Dom’s, Jr., Singles

Ben Ferrence, Lewiston, Jr., Doubles

Reid Pomerleau, Lewiston, Sr., Doubles

Kyle Morin, Lewiston, Sr., Doubles

Sam Zashut, Lewiston, Sr., Doubles