You know what I’ve been thinking? Most teams hit a few bumps on the road to greatness. That’s not to say there weren’t challenges this spring, but for the St. John’s Prep tennis team, it was, pretty much, smooth sailing.
The top-seeded Eagles defeated No. 2 Concord-Carlisle in Saturday’s Division 1 state championship at MIT’s duPont Athletic Center, completing a perfect 22-0 season.
Yes, 22 matches, 22 wins behind coach Mark Metropolis, who also picked up his 500th win with The Prep back in April.
Not only was Concord-Carlisle in the Eagles’ way on Saturday, but so was the clock. The 4:30 p.m. match was delayed, and didn’t wrap up until nearly 9 p.m. That’s not easy for the players, psychologically.
But hours later, the program’s fifth state title was secured – its first since 2001.
Luke Free, the doubles team of Mark McDuffee and Alex Melville, Jack Prokopis, and the duo of Luke Prokopis and Boris Kouzminov were all victorious.
“Most determined team I’ve ever had,” Metropolis said. “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 talking. Turned out, it wasn’t. … They set the goals and met them.”
The Eagles finished 10-0 in the Catholic Conference, 5-0 in the state tournament, and now, can live the rest of their lives as champions.
“These kids played so well and were a determined bunch,” Metropolis said.
Prep, good week.
