Duxbury Boys Tennis Team Wins State Championship
In a decisive showdown at the MIT DuPont Tennis Courts, the Duxbury high school boys tennis team achieved a clean sweep against Westborough, winning the Division 2 state championship with a commanding score of 5-0. Unlike the nail-biting encounters that characterized their previous matches in this trilogy, the final was dominated by the No. 4 ranked Dragons, who only dropped a total of two games across all three singles matches.
Match Highlights
Tim Vargas set the tone with a flawless performance at the No. 1 singles position, overwhelming Zachary Forjette with a score of 6-0, 6-0. Meanwhile, Bennet Stout and Tyler Bettencourt, filling the No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots respectively, secured their matches with identical 6-1, 6-1 victories. In doubles action, the top Duxbury pair of Willie Pierce and Peter Burnham faced a tougher challenge, but ultimately triumphed over Subash Pallothu and Jordan Hlawek, clinching the match 7-5, 4-6, 10-7. The Dragons’ No. 2 duo of Nick Gallagher and Lucas Pratt also proved victorious, overcoming Arnav Chinthapatla and Ishaan Thekkekunnel with a scoreline of 6-4, 6-3.
Westborough’s Journey
For Westborough, the path to the finals was one of resilience and determination, particularly as they aimed to turn the page on three years of disappointment. Coach Leonard O’Neil emphasized the importance of taking a broader perspective amidst the heartbreak of defeat. With a youthful lineup consisting of three freshmen and two sophomores, the Rangers lacked returning players from their previous year’s final match, barring junior Hlawek and the lone senior Jorge Garcia Gonzales.
Garcia Gonzales, who has watched the younger players grow tremendously from eighth grade, aimed to reduce pressure on his teammates: “Their journey has been remarkable, and they should take pride in reaching this stage despite the outcome.”
The No. 6 seeded Rangers demonstrated considerable talent, having upset both No. 2 Hingham and No. 3 Sharon to secure their spot at the finals.
Coaching Perspective
Reflecting on their competition, Coach O’Neil acknowledged the challenge of following in the footsteps of past athletes:
“We emphasize the mental side of tennis and the importance of perseverance—something our players exemplified throughout the season.”
For Duxbury, this victory symbolizes a triumphant return to the top of the Division 2 boys tennis landscape, reinforcing their legacy in the sport.
