CAMBRIDGE – In the latest showdown between Duxbury and Westborough for the Division 2 boys tennis championship, a senior-heavy Dragons squad scored a decisive victory.
Duxbury’s three singles players dropped just two games across six sets, leading the No. 4 Dragons to a 5-0 win over the No. 7 Westborough Rangers on Sunday at MIT’s duPont Tennis Courts.
Duxbury (20-3) won its second title in three years. The Dragons and Rangers (15-6) have faced off in each of the last three D2 finals, Westborough defeating Duxbury in 2024.
“We knew we had a wagon in singles, and the kids really played,” said Duxbury coach John Bunar. “They gave an example of wanting to be on the tennis court for hours. They loved every minute of being on the surface, and that’s going to be passed down. They taught the younger guys how to be men.”
Tim Vargas set the tone for Duxbury, getting off the court first with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Zachary Forjette at first-singles. Taylor Bettencourt quickly followed suit, winning 6-1, 6-0 against Jorge Garcia Gonzalez and third-singles to bring the Dragons within a point of the trophy.
That last point would come from Bennett Stout at second-singles. Stout pulled in Vikram Hiranandani with a series of short volleys at the net, then reached up for an overhead shot to the back line to win 6-1, 6-0 and clinch the title.
“We were all super confident coming in,” Vargas said. “We knew what we were up against in singles. We knew that if we played our game, we’d get it done.”
All three Duxbury singles players are seniors, but the Dragons should return some of their doubles depth. Junior Nick Gallagher and sophomore Lucas Pratt defeated Arnav Chinthapatia and Ishaan Thekkekunnel 6-4, 6-3 at second-doubles, then sophomore Willy Pierce and senior Peter Burnham won a third-set super tiebreaker to defeat Subash Pallothu and Jordan Hlawek 7-5, 4-6, (7).
Kennedy outlasts Todd as Longmeadow girls edge Wayland
CAMBRIDGE – On the court for over 3.5 hours, surrounded by cheering teammates and parents and friends, Longmeadow junior Ellen Kennedy locked in.
One tough serve later, and all those same teammates mobbed her at the net to celebrate.
Kennedy defeated Wayland’s Olivia Todd in three sets at third-singles, and the No. 1 Lancers repeated as Div. 2 girls tennis state champions with a 3-2 win over the No. 2 Wayland Warriors on Sunday at MIT’s duPont Tennis Center.
Longmeadow (24-0) completed its second straight undefeated season, winning two championships as part of a 47-game winning streak. The Lancers last lost a match over two years ago in the D2 state quarterfinals.
“She is one of the mentally toughest people I’ve ever met,” said Longmeadow coach Michael Framarin. “These girls had the weight of the world on their shoulders after winning this thing last year, and they never blinked. We’ve played so many of these close matches, and they’ve pulled out every single one.”
Wayland (14-6) cruised to straight-set victories at first- and second-singles, but Longmeadow took both doubles matches. That put the pressure on Kennedy, led 5-0 in the third set, only to watch as Todd battled back to win three straight games and fight off multiple match points with Kennedy at the service line.
Kennedy refused to let Todd get any closer, firing a serve on match point that Todd returned out of bounds for the 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win and title.
“In that moment, to know that it was all coming down to me, I felt so supported,” Kennedy said. “I’m really proud of how I kept fighting, and I’m really proud of my entire team.”
Longmeadow first-doubles team Nora McMahon and Kelci Talati beat Yumiko Niimi and Arya Samaratunga, 6-2, 6-0, and second-doubles team Maia Oh and Anaya Mohani came back to beat Emiko Niimi and Ava Knourenko 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Wayland’s Isabella Camacho beat Sarah Tiru at first-singles, 6-0, 6-0, and Elena Tan beat Bailey Downes at second-singles, 6-2, 6-1.
Originally Published:
