Year 8 Boys Tennis State Finals
- 2 Dec 2016
In February this year, the boys began an undefeated journey that would see them all the way to the State Finals, which were held on Thursday 24 November at the Boroondara Tennis Centre.
They entered the finals hoping to replicate their superb Year 7 season – in which they were the State runners up – or perhaps even go one step better. They were up against it from the very beginning though, having to face the 2015 champions from the Maribyrnong Sports Academy in their first round robin match group stage, and were playing for the majority of the day without their best player – the injured Grant Sandler.
However, in the Preliminary stages of the Finals, they accounted for Maribyrnong 3 sets all (14 games to 13) and Notre Dame 4-2, and lost a tight encounter with Auburn 3-3 (14-17), placing second in their group and setting up a sudden death semi-final showdown against Notre Dame, which they won 4-2.
In the final, the boys faced Auburn again. They put up a brave fight, but couldn’t quite replicate their form of earlier in the day losing two tense tie-breaks and the match 4-0.
The boys’ effort to come second in the State for the second year in succession (and to be the only team in the entire State to make the Grand Final and walk away with medals in both Years 7 and Year 8) was unbelievable. They displayed great sportsmanship and supported each other throughout. Well done, boys. Bring on 2017!
Deon Weingarten (coach)
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