Boys Tennis:
Thanks to Maranatha for this report:
When they started the season, the rebuilding Minutemen set their goal of reaching the playoffs, which sounds odd for the reigning league co-champions, who have been league champions every year since Coach Arthur Hsieh took over the program in 2013.
But after losing 5 of their top players, and with the rest of the league getting stronger, they knew they would be battling just to make the playoffs this season.
Mission accomplished.
With today’s win over the Jaguars, Maranatha is assured of finishing as one of the league’s top 3 teams.
If they can win their regular season finale on Monday, they will finish no worse than 2nd, a huge accomplishment for this ever-improving team that is getting the most out of its players.
Starting with passion and purpose, the Minutemen came away with 6-0 sweep in the first round, with #1 Joshua Im, #2 Shahe Yerevanian, and #3 Victor Qiao winning 6-0, 6-3, and 6-4 respectively; while their doubles counterparts, #1 Sawyer Tarampi/Matt Yip, #2 Eli Su/Hayden Geeting, and #3 Malachi Dhamaratne/Spencer Wang posting 6-0, 6-3, 6-1 wins.
The second round was a different story, however, as a combination of a drop in focus, warm weather, and a strong response from New Roads, left the Minutemen with only 2 wins in the round, courtesy of two 6-0 wins from the #1’s, Im and Tarampi/Yip. Yerevanian fought back from 0-3 to take a 6-5 lead, before heading into a tie-breaker at 6-6.
Yerevanian had set-point at 6-5, and was in control of the point, when his opponent’s shot hit the bottom of the tape, rolled up and then along the top of the net, and dribbled over.
That seemed to knock the wind out of Yerevanian, as he lost the next two points to leave him just short of completing the comeback.
The Minutemen responded to their lackluster effort with a stronger effort in the final round, with Im and Tarampi/Yip completing their sweeps, 6-1 and 6-2, while Yerevanian rebounded from his heart-breaking loss, 6-1, and Su/Geeting got back on track, 6-2. Dhamaratne/Wang gave a spirited effort, contending with the #1’s, before falling, 6-4.
Monday’s season finale will be on Monday, 4/24/23, at Muir High School, and will celebrate the careers of seniors, Im, Yerevanian, and Qiao on Senior Day.
Photo of Malachi Dhamaratne courtesy of Amanda Lin
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