La Salle poses after winning the Philadelphia Catholic League championship Monday against St. Joseph’s Prep.
for 9th straight league championship
PHILADELPHIA — They did it again. The La Salle College High School tennis team won its ninth straight Philadelphia Catholic League championship Monday afternoon at La Salle University.
The Explorers’ win, just like the previous eight championships, came against rival St. Joseph’s Prep, 3-2.
“We’ve been lucky,” head coach Gerard Brett, who has won three of the titles, said. “We’ve had some excellent students come through the program… I really think character-wise the guys are very resilient. It’s not easy to win that many in a row. I’m proud of the guys for doing it.
“With the history of the Catholic League, it never gets old. There is a long and storied tradition here, so it doesn’t get old.”
Seniors Eric Bunting and Franz Wagner were two of La Salle’s singles representatives in the PCL championship.
“Senior leadership,” Brett said when asked about his team’s success this year. “Strong core group of guys that are seniors. They really set the tone for the younger guys.”
Bunting also won, 6-1, 6-2 against the Prep’s Mike Haley.
Wagner fell short in his match, losing 4-6, 3-6 to John Slota.
Freshman Andrew Lutschaunig was La Salle’s other singles representative. He topped the Hawks’ Grant Bianchi in consecutive sets, 6-1, 6-2.
“Talent-wise we’ve got a great freshman,” Brett said of Lutschaunig. “He’s really made us stronger by having him on board.”
La Salle’s first doubles team — composed of Jared Bunch and Luke DeAngelis — won in consecutive sets, 6-2, 6-1.
The second double team for La Salle fell short in three sets. Nick Ventresa and Mike DeAngelis lost, 3-6, 6-3, 5-7, to the Prep’s Jack Hughes and Steve Yazzi.
“Our character, our sportsmanship, I always feel like it shines through in moments like this,” Brett said of his team Monday. “That’s probably what I’m most proud of with the guys.”
The Explorers still have more to accomplish this season. Wednesday they face Central High School in the District 12 – Philadelphia City Championship at Legacy Youth Tennis Center at 1:30 p.m.
“We aspire for more than (a Catholic League championship),” Brett said. “We’re looking ahead to Districts… And our goal as always is to go to the state playoffs, which we’ve done five years in a row. We’re looking to keep that going.”
The post BOYS TENNIS: La Salle wins ninth consecutive PCL title appeared first on GameTime CT.