Boys' Tennis Back on Top

After a run of four straight Division 2 state championships, the boys’ tennis team lost to Hingham last year in the finals.

On Wednesday, they reclaimed the throne with a 5-0 win over south champion Sharon (19-1) at Lexington High School.

“Last year left a bitter taste in our mouths, and we didn’t want it to happen again,” Winchester coach Tobe Okoye said. “It feels amazing. Everyone came out here and really stepped it up.”

Winchester (20-2), the No. 1 seed from the North sectional, got off to a hot start with two quick wins at first and second doubles.

“We got the momentum on our side, and we didn’t look back,” Okoye said.

Winchester’s Erik Meiler and Alex Saich teamed up at first doubles to take down Sharon’s Eric Bloom and Jake Steinberg in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2. At second doubles, the Winchester duo of Mike Lauretano and Matt Roll defeated Sharon’s Dan Elfman and Kevin Lee by the same score.

After the early doubles wins, Winchester senior Ben Davis clinched the team victory with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Sharon senior Brad Malenich.

Davis said he was thinking about last year’s state finals loss during the match.

“It was definitely on my mind,” he said. “With all the people here, it really reminded me of it.”

At first singles, Winchester senior Christian Boulanger beat Sharon junior Vivek Nangia 6-0, 7-5. Boulanger rallied back from a 4-1 second-set deficit to win in straight sets.

Winchester’s Jake Criss defeated Sharon junior Aditya Puttigampala in a third-set tiebreaker at third singles to seal the 5-0 sweep.

Playing alongside the boys’ team was the Winchester High girls’ tennis team, which defeated south champion Hopkinton to capture its fifth-straight Division 2 state title and its 114th consecutive win overall.