The Deep Run girls’ team finally emerged from the giant shadow of long-time rival Mills Godwin to win the 5A state championship.
Midlothian’s girls’ team captured its third straight 4A title, cruising past district rival Hanover in the final.
Rising senior Nina Sorkin of Deep Run continued her unbeaten streak against prep competition, claiming her third consecutive singles and doubles crowns.
Those were the highlights, as the Richmond area reaped the benefits of the Virginia High School League divisional lineup for the third year in a row.
With six classifications awarding team and individual championships, Richmond won more than its share of tennis titles – team and individual – during the early part of June at various locations around the commonwealth.
After knocking off Godwin in the regional semifinals, the Wildcats coasted through the rest of the tournament, sweeping Thomas Jefferson (Alexandria) 5-0 in the title match at Huntington Park in Newport News.
It was the first state championship for the girls’ team, which went 20-0 this season, beating Godwin four times.
Led by seniors Sarah Holland, Courtney Price and Brooke Gore, Midlothian rolled past Hanover 5-0 in the final at Liberty University in Lynchburg. The seniors passed up graduation ceremonies in Richmond to make it a three-peat for the Trojans.
Another local team, Maggie Walker Governors’ School, won the 2A state title with a 6-0 rout of Wilson Memorial at Radford University in Radford. Karl Katlaps led the charge for the Green Dragons at No. 1 singles.
Three other schools lost in the finals. The Deep Run boys were edged by Thomas Jefferson (Alexandria) 5-3 in the 5A showdown in Newport News, while Cosby’s boys dropped a thriller to Chantilly 5-3 in the 6A final in Fairfax.
Midlothian’s boys also came up short in the 4A title match against John Handley, losing 5-0 at Liberty.
In addition to claiming the singles crown with a straight-set drubbing of Ashley Fitz-Patrick of George Marshall (Fairfax), Sorkin returned to the court with Audrey Butterworth to collect the 5A doubles title over a pair from Patrick Henry (Roanoke).
Sorkin, who went 37-0 in singles and doubles this season, hasn’t lost a set in three years to her high-school opponents.
Three other individuals from the area earned singles and doubles titles.
Cosby’s Paul Mendoza edged Ryan Kros of W.T. Woodson 7-6 (7-5), 6-3 in the 6A singles final at George Mason University in Fairfax. Mendoza teamed with Andrew Carey for a straight-set verdict over a Woodson tandem.
In the boys’ 2A division, Chase Bernstine of Goochland had no trouble winning his second straight singles crown, dropping only two games in the final. He and his younger brother, Ryan, came back to capture the doubles championship at Radford.
Anna Soffin made it a sweep in the girls’ 2A classification. After cruising to a straight-set victory in singles over teammate Narmeen Rashid, Soffin and Rashid unified to pick up the doubles title at Radford.
Deep Run senior Rahul Jilakara was runner-up in the boys’ 5A singles division, bowing to Robert Levin of Princess Anne (Virginia Beach) 6-1, 6-2.
In the private school division, St Christopher’s powered its way to a thrilling 5-3 decision over St. Stephen’s-St. Agnes in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I final at Collegiate’s athletic complex.
Senior Matthew Fernandez, who is heading for the University of Richmond, led the way for the Saints, capping a 19-0 season in singles. It was the second straight VIS title for St. Christopher’s.