The boys tennis team (11–1) tied the Wootton Patriots (12–0) for first place in the county championships on May 15. The meet was a hard fought competition in which the two favored teams tied with 23 points.

The meet follows a tournament-style bracket in which each school in the county gets one spot. Bracket play began on May 8th, and by the final day of counties on May 15th only Whitman, Wootton and Churchill remained.

The Vikes won four of their seven draws as a team. Wins in singles came from Senior Jack Welch, junior Andrew Leung, and freshman Zach Rosen. Additionally, the boys doubles team of sophomore Kevan Nathani and freshman Leo Esztergomi came back to win in three sets against Wootton after dropping the first.

Sophomore Evin McDonald, a top 50 ranked player in the nation and the team’s best singles player, suffered a tough loss to Wooton’s top 25 player Joseph Brailovsky in three sets. McDonald had suffered a wrist injury earlier in the week and was forced to play through it.

“He was forced to hit a backhand slice during the county finals, however he did still get a set off of Joseph,” Leung said. “He is recovering now and just won the regional semifinals, so I don’t believe his injury has affected his play that much.”

As the meet came down to the wire, it was clear that either the Vikes or the Patriots would take the meet. Churchill’s defeat over Wootton in doubles sealed the meet as a tie.

Many team members look forward to next season, and look to continue their success, which has been dominant over the past several years, Nathani said.

“Overall, the team stayed positive throughout the meet,” Nathani said. “We lost to Wootton in the regular season so to be able to win against some of their players made us feel proud of our season and how hard we had worked to win.”

Although the team’s season is over, many of the players will compete as individuals in the state championships starting on May 16. Welch and Leung look to win the doubles state championship once again, and make it two in a row.