(PHOTOS BY JAMES QUINN & MIKE SZCZEPKOWSKI)
BY ZACHARY REAGAN
RADNOR, PA – After a roller coaster season in addition to a week-long rain delay playing their final game of the year, The Episcopal Academy boy’s tennis earned their first Inter-Academic League title since 2015. The Churchmen will share the title with The Haverford School, who have won every other Inter-Ac championship consecutively in that span. Episcopal needed to beat Haverford in their penultimate game of the season to have a shot of sharing the crown, and they were able to do just that.
The sun was bright in Radnor on Monday, May 12th as the Inter-Ac’s top two teams went to court for all the marbles. In doubles, Episcopal’s top two teams took their sets, while Haverford’s third and fourth pairs took theirs. Haverford’s James MacColl and Jonah Grunes put up a good fight against Episcopal’s Yousef Gilani and Jayden Zhu, but fell in two sets (7-6, 6-3).
Their match took a good amount of time, but it was nothing compared to Haverford’s Eli Leader and Gabriel Crowder against Episcopal’s Andrew Ahn and Arthur Hampel. Their second set went a whopping 20 games. Haverford edged out their opponents (6-2, 3-6, 11-9).
All three of the singles matches on display were pure cinema. The third match went to Haverford’s RJ Neilly, whose passion on the court over both his performance and his teammates’ was palpable. He was always shouting words of encouragement down the way, as well as making his own triumphs known to all in the tennis complex with an emphatic, “Come on!” His opponent, Adam Graham, showed some frustrations, but wasn’t able to make his comeback in the second set with Neill winning (6-2, 6-4).
The first match was sort of the opposite to the third, with Episcopal’s top dog, Preston Lubiniecki taking on Haverford’s Kaiser Zhao. The first set was tight, with Zhao taking four games. As their match wore on, Zhao’s frustration showed as Lubiniecki took their second set through only seven total games (6-4, 6-1).
The second match of singles grew the audience’s attention. The match going to a third set, everyone in the crowd got to watch Episcopal’s Connor Chambers and Haverford’s Phineas Monogue duke it out on the court.
Episcopal Academy vs. Haverford School Match Highlights by Zach Reagan for PSD:
EA senior Connor Chambers walks us through his emotions after his match, which ultimately sealed the co-championship Inter-Ac title for EA - PSD Video by Zach Reagan
The score was tied 3-3 by this point, which meant there would only be one more set until a possible Inter-Ac shared champion determined. After a lot of back and forth, precise line shots, powerful serves and crisp backhands, Chambers pulled ahead and didn’t look back. Chambers took the third set 10-8 and was immediately mobbed by his teammates and friends.
Haverford junior Kaiser Zhao says his team has a lot of up-and-coming underclassmen to watch out for - PSD Video by Zach Reagan
EA head coach Whitaker Powell was very proud of his team & shares outlook of playing final match vs. GA - PSD Video by Zach Reagan
Elated after their victory over the Fords, the Churchmen still had one more opponent left in their season, Germantown Academy (GA). Although they had to wait out the rain for a week but on Monday, May 19th Episcopal (EA) came in with calm minds and high hopes of an Inter-Ac Title.
Stellar performances by #2 doubles players Yousuf Gilani and Jayden Zhu defeated Germantown Academy’s Connor Bradley and Jake Barenbaum 7-5, 6-3. Followed by #3 doubles partners of Arthur Hampel and Andrew Ahn securing their matches against GA’s Alex Wang and Jake Malenbaum 6-0, 6-1. Number 4 doubles partners Rubens Swartz and Hank Goebeler kept the momentum going with a 6-4, 7-5 win against Ravi Bhatt and Gabe Freeman.
GA’s first doubles team of Justin Huang and Ben Getson were in a battle in their first set and came out victorious in their second set defeating EA’s David Ding and Daniel Adibi 7-6, 6-1.
Episcopal Academy vs. Germantown Academy (Photos by Mike Szczepkowski)
GA’s second and third single players of Alex Katzer and Vincent Zhou defeated EA’s Connor Chambers and Adam Graham 7-6, 6-1, 6-0, 6-1 respectively.
Tied 3-3, it all came down to EA’s first singles player Preston Lubiniecki who sealed the win 6-4, 6-1 against Patriot Aiden Swartz.
It was definitely an intense season ending match with Episcopal coming away with the (4-3) victory and an a shared Inter-Ac Championship Title a decade in the making.
Episcopal head coach Whitaker Powell took a moment after the game against Germantown to reflect on his team’s monumental achievement.
“I'm incredibly proud of this group of boys for the way they battled all year. It’s been a season defined by resilience, belief, and teamwork. To share the Inter-Ac title with our oldest and fiercest rival feels like a fitting end—it’s a fair result based on the consistent level of play both teams displayed throughout the season.”
Haverford’s head coach Tracy Tooke shared in Powell's sentiment.
“The boys continue to demonstrate what it takes to be the best in the Inter-Ac establishing Haverford's 15th successful season as Inter-Ac Champions. Although not our first choice to share the title, EA is a well-coached team with strong players who deserve the title as well," said Tooke.
The Haverford School ended their season with a (9-1) league and (14-1) overall record.
The Episcopal Academy ended their season with a (9-1) league and a (14-2) overall record.
There is a good chance these two powerhouse teams will face each other again in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association State Title Championship Match.
