CAMBRIDGE — Playing under unexpected circumstances, not easy. St. John’s Prep’s tennis team finished its Division 1 state title match at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, despite the original starting time scheduled for 4:30 p.m.
That said, The Prep has defied the odds all season long, and now, adds a state championship. The top-seeded Eagles defeated No. 2 Concord-Carlisle, 4-1, at MIT’s duPont Athletic Center to complete a perfect 22-0 season.
It’s the program’s fifth state title, all under coach Mark Metropolis, a Peabody resident and former teacher at Peabody High. The Prep’s last victory in a state final was in 2001.
“Most determined team I’ve ever had. When we lost to Lexington in the semifinals, 3-2, last year, the kids said we’re going to work harder and win it, but you just think it’s kids’ talking. Turned out, it wasn’t,” Metropolis said. “They set the goals and they met them.”
Luke Free set the tone, winning first at third singles in 6-2, 6-1 fashion against Charlie Derkazarian. From there, the second doubles team of Mark McDuffe and Alex Melville took care of business against Pedro Nachbin and TJ Fahey, 6-2, 6-2, to put the pressure on.
Facing a 2-0 hole, Concord-Carlisle took first singles to make it 2-1. Lucas Bikkesbaker was victorious over John DeAngelis (6-4, 6-1).
“Everything else was nip-and-tuck, and Jack Prokopis (6-3, 6-4) secured the win for us at second singles (against Ben Ostrowsky) to clinch the march,” Metropolis said. “Scores don’t indicate how close the match was.”
From there, the reliable duo of Luke Prokopis and Boris Kouzminov earned a doubles win (6-3, 7-5) over Dan Lynch and Arman Samani.
“These kids played so well and were a determined bunch,” Metropolis said.
The Prep celebrated with dinner in Cambridge after a 10-0 conference record, 20-plus wins, and now, the state title.
