Arie Tuckerman’21 chases ball at practice. (Vaughn Armour’21/Media staff)

Although they were eliminated in the early stages of postseason play as a team, each member of the Academy boys tennis squad qualified for the district tournament individually. The competition spanned two days, with CA hosting preliminaries on Thursday, May 17, and the finals being held at Upper Arlington on Saturday, May 19.

In the first round of the singles tournament, freshman Arie Tuckerman triumphed over Chris Finnisi of Bishop Watterson, 6-4, 6-4. Unfortunately, sophomore Ryan Wahl fell to Wellington’s Milan Gonela, 6-2, 6-1, and freshman Jack Madison lost in a battle with Gonela’s teammate Adam Sorrels, 7-5, 7-6. 

Tuckerman was ultimately defeated in the final round by Gonela, 6-1, 6-1. None of the Vikings playing singles advanced to the state tournament, but the three underclassmen each had sensational seasons, nonetheless.

In the doubles bracket, both Academy teams won their opening matches. Senior Sam Vogel and junior Suriya Sundaram rebounded from a rough first set to oust Wellington’s Ryan Young and Kolapo Dairo, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1. Junior Drew Haffer and sophomore Rhian Seneviratne followed suit, breezing by Aaron Young and Thibault Knox-Kelly of Bexley, 6-2, 6-0. 

Haffer and Seneviratne put forth a valiant effort in their contest against Connor and Griffin Biernat of Wellington in the last round, but came up short, as the duo suffered a 6-2, 6-3 loss. Both enjoyed impressive campaigns,  serving as two of CA’s most consistent performers throughout the year. 

Vogel and Sundaram were victorious in their bout, punching a ticket to states by overwhelming Bexley’s Leo Schottenstein and Christian Roddy, 6-2, 6-4.

The lone remaining Vikes will compete for a state title at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason on Friday, May 25, and Saturday, May 26.