Ryan Wahl ’20 serves the ball. (Vaughn Armour’21/Media staff)
Entering the week, Academy’s boys tennis team knew it would be facing some of the toughest competition in Ohio. While the Vikings fought intensely despite players’ illnesses, they unfortunately dropped three of their four matches.
CA’s slate began with a match against New Albany, the second-ranked Division 1 team in the state, on Monday, April 30. Though the Vikes put forth a valiant effort, each court fell to the Eagles in two sets.
The next day, Tuesday, May 1, the boys traveled to Upper Arlington. The loss gave Academy extra motivation, but the Vikings ultimately fell short of conquering the Golden Bears. Upper Arlington topped CA 4-1, with junior Suriya Sundaram pulling out a 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 victory in second singles for the Vikes.
Academy’s one bright spot was its match at Grandview Heights on Wednesday, May 2. Shaking up their usual court assignments, the Vikings beat the Bobcats 5-0. Sundaram won in first singles, 6-4, 6-2, and senior Sam Vogel shut out his opponent on the second singles court, 6-0, 6-0. Sophomore Ryan Wahl rose to the challenge in third singles, defeating his opponent 6-3, 6-2. Neither the duo of junior Drew Haffer and sophomore Rhian Seneviratne, playing first doubles, nor the second doubles team of senior Harry Zaye and freshman Lucas Huang lost a single game for CA.
Rounding out the Vikes’ week was a highly anticipated clash with rival Wellington on Thursday, May 3. Academy, aided by the support of many cheering fans, couldn’t quite keep up with the Jaguars, falling 5-0. Both freshman Arie Tuckerman and Sundaram were defeated 6-1, 6-1, in the first and second singles courts, respectively. Freshman Jack Madison battled in third singles but was overwhelmed in a tough third set and lost, 4-6, 6-3, 1-0. Playing first doubles, Vogel and Haffer were edged 6-4, 6-2, and the pair of Wahl and Seneviratne were outlasted 6-4, 1-6, 1-0 in second doubles.
The Vikings close their regular season and start tournament play in the upcoming week. CA will travel to Thomas Worthington on Monday, May 7, before returning home to face Westerville Central on Wednesday, May 9. The Vikes then host sectionals on Thursday, May 10 and Saturday, May 12.
