WOOSTER — Tess Bucher made Stark County tennis history Friday afternoon. 

The Hoover High School senior became the county’s first Division I state champion in singles. She defeated senior Amara Brahmbhatt of Westlake in the finals of the Ohio High School Athletic Association tournament. Bucher won by scores of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 at Aspen Racquet Club. 

Friday’s semifinals and finals were moved indoors to Aspen because of the rainy conditions. The opening two rounds Thursday were played outdoors at College of Wooster. 

The unbeaten Bucher showed her resilience in the semifinals Friday morning, dropping the first set of the match for the first time this season. Avon senior Natalie Smitek won the first set 7-5 before Bucher rallied to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-2 to win the match. 

Bucher’s four-year career at Hoover features four trips to the state semifinals, with a state runner-up finish last year before winning this year’s championship. 

Her career wraps up Saturday in Wooster when the top-ranked Vikings play in the final rounds of the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association team tournament. Hoover enters the event unbeaten this season. 

This is a developing story. Return later for comments from Bucher and her coach, Ryan Shaffer, on her state title.