Sophomore Rhian Seneviratne rips a serve. Inji Kang’19/Media staff
After an excellent season last year, Academy’s tennis team started its 2018 campaign with plenty of new faces. Though the departure of a sensational senior class will be difficult to replace, the Vikes have reloaded with young talent, setting up a hopeful return to the courts.
CA had its opening match at Worthington Christian on Thursday, April 5. The Vikings swept the courts 5-0, with each player earning comfortable victories. In first singles, Arie Tuckerman’21 quickly defeated his opponent, 6-1, 6-0. Fellow freshman Jack Madison and junior Drew Haffer didn’t drop a single game in second and third singles, respectively, with each winning 6-0, 6-0. The first doubles team of senior Sam Vogel and junior Suriya Sundaram earned a 6-1, 6-1 victory, and the second doubles team of senior Harry Zaye and sophomore Ryan Wahl bested its enemy 6-1, 6-0.
Academy returned to battle the following day, Friday, April 6, for its home opener against Westerville North. Again, the boys won in dominant fashion, steamrolling the Warriors 4-0. Although Tuckerman did not finish his match due to the rain, the rest of the Vikes prevailed. In second singles, Haffer won 6-2, 6-0. He was followed by Sundaram in third singles and the pair of sophomore Rhian Seneviratne and Madison on first doubles, who each won 6-1, 6-0. The second doubles team of Vogel and Wahl rounded out the strong performance with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout.
CA then drove up to Cleveland for a double header against St. John’s of Toledo and Ottawa Hills on Saturday, April 7. Although the Vikings suffered a narrow defeat to the Titans, 3-2, they fought hard. Each singles court, occupied by Tuckerman, Madison, and Haffer, fell to St. John’s, but the two doubles teams of Sundaram and Vogel and Wahl and Seneviratne emerged victorious. Academy rebounded with a 3-2 victory against Ottawa Hills later in the day, earning a split for the trip.
The boys have another busy week, with 4 matches. CA will host both Whitehall-Yearling on Tuesday, April 10, and Olentangy on Wednesday, April 11. The Vikes then travel to London on Thursday, April 12, before rounding out their week with a home clash against St. Xavier on Friday, April 13.
