By Austin Block
Over two months ago, the boysâ tennis team lost a match. As of press time, the team had not lost since, riding a 10-game win streak into the playoffs, capturing the league singles and doubles titles, and cruising to the semifinals of CIF playoffs with 16-2, 10-8 and 10-8 victories.
The team captured the league championship with a perfect 10-0 record. The team hasnât lost a league match in Head Coach Chris Simpsonâs 10-year stewardship of the team. In the league finals, Matt Wagner â11 took the singles title with a 6-2, 4-6, 10-5 win over a Chaminade freshman. The doubles team of Chris Kenney â10 and Spencer Suk â10 won 6-3, 6-3 over Andrew Berman â10 and Kyle Martin-Patterson â10.
The team compiled a 21-4 overall record. It narrowly beat rival Brentwood 10-8 on the road on April 28. It also clinched its fourth Bay Area Classic title with an 11-7 win over Santa Monica on April 14.
The Wolverines were on the brink of elimination in the second round of CIF playoffs, but they mounted a comeback that saved them from a loss to Northwood High School. The final score was 10-8.
“We probably should have lost to them and we came back and everyone really showed a lot of fight to win that match because we didnât want to go out on that note,” Kenney said.
In the quarterfinals, the team defeated rival Peninsula, who had defeated the Wolverines 11-7 early in the season.
“It was especially exciting because weâve lost to them every single time since our freshman year. Theyâve been our nemesis,” Kenney said. “It was a complete team effort. We had everyone winning some matches. I think everyone won at least one match.”
The team faced University High School in the CIF semifinals on Tuesday after press time. University defeated the Wolverines 12-5 in the same round last year.
“It will be good to get a little revenge,” Kenney said. “Theyâre really good. Theyâre the one seed and theyâre undefeated this year.”
In CIF individuals, Wagner and the team of Kenney and Suk lost in the third round. Berman and Patterson, who advanced to CIF individual playoffs despite falling to their teammates in the league final, will play in the round of 16 Friday.
