Boys Tennis at Western Continues to Dominate

The boys tennis team at Western is on the way to their fourth straight state title with a perfect 14-0 record going into the championships. In the 14 matchups, the Warriors won 10 of them 9-0 and in the 4 matches they failed to sweep, they dominated opponents with a combined score of 30-6.

An amazing statistic about this team is that the four graduating seniors have played together all four years, advancing to the state competition together, and all four will be attending the University of Virginia next fall. These four seniors were recognized May 20 on the court by Athletic Director Dan Bledsoe, who said, “We honor a remarkable group of seniors who have not only led our team with heart, discipline and sportsmanship, but have also been part of one of the most dominant programs in the state regardless of sport or classification. Season after season, they have set a standard of excellence that will be remembered long after they leave these courts.” 

Each of the seniors had a message to his teammates. Kemper Browns message was, “Always respect and cherish your opponents. Respect them just as you would want to be respected on the court. Although it seems little, telling your opponent “nice shot” or “you played a great match” goes a long way.” Brader Eby offered, “I’ll miss you guys next year. Trust me, keep doing sprints,” Jackson Smith’s message was, “Thank you for four great years of tennis together,” and Wade Sturman said, “You guys are awesome. Enjoy the time that you have on this team because it goes by way faster than you think. When you are standing in this position, on senior night, have no regrets.”

Late breaking news: The boys won the regional tournament against Monticello 5-0 on May 30.