Another year, another title.
Such is life these days for the Kentridge High boys tennis team. Last week, the Chargers (10-0) put the wraps on their fourth straight South Puget Sound League North Division title, sweeping away Tahoma in five games, 5-0.
Celebration?
Euphoria?
These guys have been there and done that.
“They were excited, but I think this team is just really looking forward to the tournaments coming up,” said Kentridge coach Bob Armstrong. “That’s the focus.”
And, essentially, that has been the focus for the Chargers all season long. Another league title is nice, but the postseason is what Kentridge is about this season. Kentridge plays Puyallup on Wednesday (Oct. 14) in a nonleague match, then braces for the sub-district tournament this weekend. After that, the Chargers are off until spring, when the tennis season picks up again.
As usual, however, there wasn’t anyone better than the Chargers this fall. Along with their 10-0 SPSL North meet, Kentridge pushed its league dual-meet winning streak to 42 straight. In addition, the Chargers have won 76 of their last 79 SPSL North meets.
Yet, this season’s dominance may have taken the cake. Kentwood (8-2 and in second place) was the only team to take a couple wins off of the Chargers. Kentridge beat Kentwood 3-2 on Sept. 15 and 3-2 on Oct. 1. Those were the pivotal matches of the season, Armstrong noted.
“To be honest, when we beat Kentwood, we knew (we had the league title),” Armstrong said. “That was the big match.”
Kentridge swept through every other team in the league twice.
Part of that success is thanks to No. 1 singles standout Matt Overland, who took second at state last year. Overland posted a 4-2 league mark this season, his only two losses coming to three-time state champ Max Manthou of Kentwood. Solidifying the Kentridge roster was the shifting of Paul Yi from No. 1 doubles to No. 2 singles and moving Garrett Ballou in to play No. 1 doubles.
Ballou hasn’t missed a step playing with Vineeth Omkaram as the two have served up a perfect 8-0 league mark. Meanwhile, Yi has taken to No. 2 singles with ease, working to a 7-0 league record.
“It has been real smooth transition for Paul,” Armstrong said. “I didn’t have to get involved at all. Paul wanted to go to singles and Garrett wanted to go doubles. Garrett and Vineeth get along really well and have played extremely well together. And Paul is explosive. When he’s on, he’s really on.”
FAB FIVE
Below is a look at the top five singles and doubles records in the SPSL North
SINGLES
NAME/SCHOOL RECORD
Paul Yi, Kentridge 7-0
Max Manthou, Kentwood 6-0
Alex Costanzo, Tahoma 5-1
Matt Overland, Kentridge 4-2
Cole Jeter, Auburn 3-2
DOUBLES RECORD
Vineeth Omkaram/Garrett Ballou, Kentridge 8-0
Vincent Lin/Sahil Diwan, Kentridge 4-0
Alex Noyes/Tucker Siegert, Kentwood 4-0
Adrian Tabaquin/Clements, Kentwood 4-2
Brandon Wilber/Brenton Millard, Auburn 2-2
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