The boys’ tennis team’s winning season came to an end after its loss to University High School last Friday in the quarterfinals of the Southern California Regional Championships.
The Wolverines lost by a score of 6-1.
The team broke new ground for Harvard-Westlake, as this was the school’s first appearance in the Regional competition in the history of the boys’ tennis program.
“It was a great experience playing in the first ever Regional Tournament for Harvard-Westlake,” Max Rothman ’14 said, “and especially facing such a strong team as Uni.”
The team was perfect in league play on the year. The Wolverines’ 10-0 league season won them their 17th straight Mission League title.
In CIF playoffs, the journey ended with a 12-6 loss in the semifinals on May 15 to Corona Del Mar. The team lost by the same score to Corona Del Mar in the semifinals last year.
However, the team’s 22-5 season overall, and advancement to the semifinals of CIF, qualified it for the Southern California Regional Championship tournament.
In the opening match of the Regional tournament, the Wolverines defeated Fresno’s Clovis West team 6-1 before the date with University in the quarterfinals.
Players said all season that University, which has won four straight CIF championships, would be the hardest team to beat in playoffs.
In doubles, the number one team comprised of captains Dylan Eisner ’13 and Harrison Kalt ’13. The second team was made up of Rothman and Jaird Meyer ’15. The third team was made up of Henry Noonan ’13 and Josh Rubin ’15. The individual representatives at the match included Michael Genender ’15, Sam Hummel ’14, Simon Gunter ’14 and Parker Chusid ’15.
Doubles pair Eisner and Kalt won the only match for Harvard-Westlake in the 6-1 defeat.
“The teams weakness is that we aren’t deep in doubles,” Rothman said.
Hummel spoke to next year’s season with excitement, saying that the extended run this postseason will serve as great experience for the returning players next year.
“The extra playing time that our team got to have during the state tournament gave us a great chance to bond,” he said. “We are all excitedly and confidently awaiting next year’s season.”
