Westborough emerges victorious from latest Division 2 boys’ tennis championship matchup with Duxbury
CAMBRIDGE — When the Westborough boys’ tennis team took four of the five points from Duxbury in a regular-season match, coach Len O’Neil predicted to his assistant and captains that the two squads would meet again in the state final.
It wasn’t exactly a bold prediction, given they had met at MIT’s duPont Tennis Courts three straight seasons in the Division 2 state championship But it was far from a guarantee, after Duxbury lost a loaded Class of 2025 and had to retool this spring.
“Sure enough, here we are,” O’Neil said. “Duxbury is a well-run organization. I expected to see them.”
After falling last year, Westborough got revenge Saturday with a resounding 4-1 victory. It’s the second championship in the last three seasons and fourth overall for the top-seeded Rangers (17-4).
Junior Zachary Forjette prevailed, 6-0, 6-4, at second singles, and freshman Darsh Nayak cruised, 6-3, 6-1, at No. 3 singles. Jordan Hlawek and Subash Pallothu took care of business, 6-2, 6-0, at first doubles, and Matias Rosenzuaig and Arnav Chinthapatla won, 6-1, 7-5, at second doubles.
“I’ve played here four years in a row, and every time it’s been against Duxbury,” said Hlawek, a senior captain. “They’re the final road block at the end of the tunnel. You expect to see them there. It’s motivating. I had lost to them two out of three times and I wanted to get that second win.”
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Willy Pierce earned a 6-4, 6-4 victory at No. 1 singles for the No. 3 Dragons (21-2). Pierce, a junior who seamlessly adjusted from doubles to singles this season, relied on his powerful groundstrokes in the clutch.
Duxbury battled elsewhere, but the Rangers simply had too much firepower.
“We were here with a chance,” said Duxbury coach John Bunar. “That’s what we wanted. If we hit every tennis ball to the best of our ability, it would have been a closer match. But that’s a good team.”
It was a particularly gratifying triumph for Hlawek and Pallothu, who finished the season 18-0 with wins over Division 1 programs Lexington, Wellesley, and Concord-Carlisle.
O’Neil highlighted their chemistry as a duo and lauded Hlawek’s unique hand-eye coordination. It was a fitting ending for a senior who has seen it all with the Rangers.
“They can play the traditional point, but when the play breaks down, they’re very good at non-traditional doubles,” O’Neil said. “It’s been a pleasure to watch them play.”
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