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Bruce Adams
badams@21st-centurymedia.com
UWCHLAN >> Downingtown East, who advanced to the PIAA 3A boys tennis team state semifinals last year, is off to a 5-0 start after defeating Great Valley 6-1 on a chilly afternoon Friday.
The Cougars won six matches in straight sets, led by junior Shrihan Madam at first singles, who won 6-0, 6-2.
Madam won the Ches-Mont National Division singles titles the past two years and held down the first singles spot for last year’s PIAA 3A state semifinalists, is now 5-0 at first singles this spring, having earned wins against Harriton, Unionville, West Chester Henderson, West Chester Rustin and now Great Valley.
“Today was my best match of the season, I think,” said Madam. “I’ve been trying to get back in shape, trying to play a little bit more tennis, and this was my best match, at least score-wise. My low backhand slice transitioning into my forehand was working well today.”
Madam is one of several Cougar captains – and is the only one who is not a senior.
Downingtown boys’ tennis head coach Chris Waychunas said, “Shrihan is just a (standout) leader, for a young player. He’s the first underclassman who’s ever been a captain on the team. He’s very vocally encouraging to his teammates.”
Asked how he views his leadership role on the Cougars, Madam responded, “Guiding the younger players, guiding the freshmen – a lot of them haven’t played a team style of tennis. Incorporating them into the team, making sure they have a role, and then helping them grow as individuals and as a team.”
At second singles, sophomore Soumil Patel earned a 6-1, 6-1 win. Patel, who played third singles last year for the Cougars, has lost only one match this spring.
“Soumil is a fighter, he doesn’t quit on any point,” said Waychunas. “He gives 110 percent on every point – that’s the key to his game.”
At first doubles, the Cougar duo of junior Ashwin Natarajan and senior Nico Pascale earned a 6-0, 6-1 win.
“Nico by nature is a singles player but he really invested his off-season into getting better at doubles skills, and it’s paid off so much,” said Waychunas. “There has been wonderful, wonderful growth in his game; he’s so confident and I love watching him play every day. Ashwin is great; he’s got all the skill sets of a great doubles player. He understands the patterns and he’s confident in executing them, even in the toughest situations.”
The remaining Downingtown East doubles teams of Brandon Gabrys/Arudra Ravikanth (second doubles), Nihaas Dantuluri/Shriyan Ghati (third doubles) and Sterling Hsu/Sam Flickinger (fourth doubles) all won in straight sets Friday.
The Cougars’ doubles duos were instrumental in a 4-3 win earlier this season against Unionville, who finished third in the District 1 3A tourney last spring.
“Our doubles teams played really, really well in that match,” said Waychunas. “I think we had a good mindset going into that match – that we were going to play our best, and let the ball fall where it may.”
For Great Valley (2-3), junior Jimmy Xiao picked up a win at third singles for his second victory of the young season. Last year, Xiao was a starter at doubles for the Patriots.
“The way Jimmy played today was really satisfying to see,” said Great Valley head coach Gerry McGrath. “I think Jimmy was relaxed today. I don’t think he did anything completely out of the ordinary for him; I just think he was able to relax and string together more (winning rallies).”
McGrath said he has been encouraged this spring by the play of sophomore Ishaan Joshi and senior Varun Sentill at second doubles.
“Varun is one of our captains, and Ishaan is one of our unspoken leaders,” said McGrath. “He’s really good at communicating on court with other players.”
“I just think this is going to be a year of growth for us,” McGrath added. We lost our first and second singles players (last year) to graduation. Our fourth doubles players are two freshmen, Ishaan is a sophomore, and our singles players are all juniors.
“Today’s match was tough — Downingtown East is an excellent team. From top to bottom, they’re very strong. Their doubles play is stellar, they position themselves well, they do smart things, their hands are phenomenal. They’re going to be a tough team to beat, at any level.”
Downingtown East 6, Great Valley 1
Singles: 1. Shrihan Madam (DE) def. Vivek Arvind (GV), 6-0, 6-2; 2. Soumil Patel (DE) def. Josh Verano (GV), 6-6, 6-1. 3. Jimmy Xiao (GV) def. Vishruth Madam (DE) 6-3, 4-1 ret.
Doubles: 1. Ashwin Natarajan/Nico Pascale (DE) def. Daniel Doekes/Anuj Awatramani (GV) 6-0, 6-1; 2. Brandon Gabrys/Arudra Ravikanth (DE) def. Ishaan Joshi/Varun Sentill (GV), 6-1, 6-2; 3. Nihaas Dantuluri/Shriyan Ghati (DE) def. Anish/Bobbili/Armaan Mehta (GV), 6-1, 6-0; 4. Sterling Hsu/Sam Flickinger (DE) def. Anirudh Venkatesh/Gautham Chandar (GV), 6-4, 6-4.
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