After a very strong season last year, KO’s boys varsity tennis team looks to go even further this year, with the hopes of playing for a New England championship. With a record of 1-2, the boys will play a tough slate of competition that will only get stronger as the season progresses.
Opening the year, the boys played host to the annual KITT, KO’s Invitational Tennis Tournament. This year had a lot of talent in a tough field with opponents from Choate, Deerfield, Hotchkiss, Westminster, Lawrenceville, Hall, and Groton.
With senior Co-captains Pratt Blair and Ciaran Concepcion making a solid run in the doubles side, but ultimately coming up short, the boys learned a lot after a weekend full of point play. “This year, our roster has an interesting blend of experience,” Head Coach Andy Krugman said. “With three upperclassmen and three lowerclassmen making up our starting six, there is a lot of youth but also a lot of experience. It is a really good group to go to practice with every day, and they always play their hardest and represent us really well.”
Moving past the KITT, on April 2, the boys traveled down to Hamden to face a consistent Hamden Hall team. With a few key players out, the Wyverns had their work cut out for them. With swift play and strong returns, Blair and freshman phenom Isaiah Shobola rolled through their opponents in straight sets. Senior Saahit Gaddipati and sophomore Neil Reddy battled for every point but ultimately lost in third-set tiebreakers.
In the No. 3 doubles spot, the brother combination of senior Aarav Mathur and freshman Aashir Mathur dominated, winning their match with scores of 6-3, 6-1, each earning their first varsity victory. The match came down to the wire and was ultimately decided by the doubles pair of sophomore Noah Sadowsky and freshman Reid Burtman. Winning the first set 7-5, losing the second 7-5, it all came down to the third set. As points were traded back and forth, the Wyverns ultimately came out with the win 10-6, and the match with a score of 4-3.
On April 7, the boys opened up the Founder’s League competition as they played host to an always strong Taft team. At No. 1 doubles, Blair and Conception played with immense energy and earned a strong win. At No. 3 doubles, Gaddipati and sophomore Logan Barash fought hard, earning the win.
On the singles side, Concepcion played solidly but was defeated by Taft’s top player, who is a top-ranked international talent from Botswana. Blair won in straight sets, and playing the 5 spot, Gaddipati won as well. Taft was strong in every other area and ultimately clawed out the 4-3 win over the Wyverns.
“Despite the result, Coach Krugman was very satisfied with our performance,” Blair said. “We view it as a step forward and not as a setback as the season continues.”
Looking ahead, the boys will face off against Cheshire Academy on April 25. We wish the boys the best of luck as the season progresses!
