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Tennis Wins AIA Division I State Championship over Mountain Ridge 5-2

5/5/2024

Juniors Logan Phillips and Naren Gudavalli clinched the final point in a 5-2 victory over Mountain Ridge to help Brophy clinch the AIA Division I State Championship at Paseo Racquet Club on Saturday. It is the 22nd state championship in school history.

“It took a complete team effort, including pulling in a guy deep off the bench,” said Head Coach Chris Campbell ‘84. “I am following two coaches, Eric Chalmers and Bill Woods, who won numerous titles. I am happy for the boys. They had to scratch and claw to get points, games, and wins to get to where we are today: state champions.”

The top-seeded Broncos faced a challenge in the No. 6 seed Mountain Lions in a match that lasted more than four hours. Brophy (19-3) showcased their resilience by winning the first three matches in singles. Junior Tyler Woo was the first off the court with a 6-1, 6-2 win at No. 4. Junior Alex Bunkse recorded a straight-set 7-5, 6-1 win at No. 5, followed by senior Ethan Ashok's impressive comeback win at No. 6 by the score of 3-6, 6-2, 10-3.

The momentum changed as Mountain Ridge won in three-set battles in the top two positions. Junior Ryan Zerbib fell to former state champion and 2024 singles runner-up Lincoln Baldanado 6-3, 4-6, 10-1, while Kentaro Akiyoshi fell 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-7 at No. 2.

Phillips gave Brophy the edge entering doubles with a win at No. 3, pulling out his three-set win 6-7, 6-2, 10-2.

Brophy changed their lineup entering doubles, adding senior Andre Johnson to pair with Akiyoshi at the top spot when Serbib was sidelined after his singles match. Naren Gudavalli and junior Arin Gopakumar joined partners Phillips and Woo following taking the SAT earlier in the morning.

Phillip at Gudavalli closed out the match with an 8-0 win at No. 2 for the clinching point. The matches at Nos. 1 and 3 were both tight but not needed in the end to get the win.

“I was waiting to see what court would seize the momentum and come out fired up,” said Campbell. “You never know who it is going to be. It was No. 2 who came out and took care of business.”

The Broncos now boast an impressive 22 state championships, dating back to their first triumph in 1973. They finished the season undefeated in Arizona.

Brophy 5, Mountain Ridge 2

Singles

Lincoln Baldanado, Mountain Ride, def. Ryan Zerbib, Brophy, 6-3, 4-6, 10-1
Jacob Thomas, Mountain Ridge, def. Ken Akiyoshi, Mountain Ridge, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 10-7
Logan Phillips, Brophy, def. Bruce Ruan, Mountain Ridge, 6-7, 6-2, 10-2
Tyler Woo, Brophy, def. Ryhaan Basha, Mountain Ridge, 6-1, 6-2
Alex Bunkse, Brophy, def. Dylan Fussell, Mountain Ridge, 7-5, 6-1
Ethan Ashok, Brophy, def. Kaleb Williams, Mountain Ridge, 3-6, 6-2, 10-3

Doubles

Andre Johnson/Akiyoshi Brophy v. Baldanado/Thomas, DNF
Logan Phillips/Naren Gudavalli, Brophy, def. Erik Prabakaran/Ruan, Mountain Ridge, 8-0
Arin Gopakumar/Woo, Brophy, v. Basha/Fussell, Mountain Ridge, DNF

TENNIS 🎾 Head Coach Chris Campbell ‘84 talks about his state championship winning team. pic.twitter.com/MSeiZXdyaZ
— Brophy Athletics (@BrophyAthletics) May 5, 2024

TENNIS 🎾 Logan Phillips provided a singles win and clinching doubles point with Naren Gudavalli at today’s state championship. pic.twitter.com/nO7OVhUJTl
— Brophy Athletics (@BrophyAthletics) May 5, 2024