Tigers Defeat Gators, Win 5th WPIAL Championship
The North Allegheny boys’ tennis team traveled to Washington and Jefferson College and brought home their fifth WPIAL Team Championship. In a rematch of last year’s championship which saw Gateway victorious, this year’s Tiger team was not to be denied. Junior Sri Thirumala and freshman Shivum Telang staked the Tigers to an early lead with a 6-0, 6-0 victory at first doubles. The brother-brother combination of senior Adithya Ramadas Guptha and sophomore Adhav Ramadas doubled the lead to 2-0 with a total annihilation at second doubles, 6-0, 6-0.
Senior Amit Bhandari was a tough out for a talented Gateway Gator at No. 3 singles, 6-3, 6-1. At this point, all eyes turned to the top two singles matches. While freshman Advaita Sircar dropped a hard-fought first set 7-6 (5), senior Trey Davidson won his first set 6-3. Davidson then built an early 3-0 lead in the second set and cruised to the win, 6-3, 6-1. As the festivities commenced, Sircar had to try to erase a deficit amid the raucous celebration around him but ultimately fell, 6-1.
Nonetheless, the victory was the 16th straight for the Tigers this season and earned them their first WPIAL title since 2009. Next up, the Tigers will play a PIAA first-round match next Tuesday to be held at a site and time to be determined.
Match Summary – 05/08/24
North Allegheny 3 Gateway 2
Singles
#1 Adam Memije (G) def. Advaita Sircar (NA) 7-6 (5), 6-1
#2 Trey Davidson (NA) def. Zidaan Hassan (G) 6-3, 6-1
#3 Logan Memije def. Amit Bhandari (NA) 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
#1 Sri Thirumala/Shivum Telang (NA) def. Matthew Bandos/Zane Amoukamal (G) 6-0, 6-0
#2 Adithya Ramadas Guptha/Adhav Ramadas (NA) def. Blake Marsh/Troy Bodin (G) 6-0, 6-0