For the second straight year, the boys' tennis team of Germantown Friends School won the Friends League Championship (Photo by Alec Kostival)

by Alec Kostival

The boys’ tennis team of GFS moved to 14-0 as a team Tuesday, winning the Friends League Championship over the Shipley Gators. The championship matchup came just a week removed from the first meeting of these two teams.

GFS just edged out Shipley three matches to two. The Tigers came in prepared for a tough battle and came out victorious. They improved from the week before, this time winning 4-1.

In first singles, Henry Ruger shined once again. The talented sophomore downed his senior opponent Parker Kim 6-1 and 6-0. Ruger’s match was the first to end, giving GFS the early edge.

Tim Peterson and Michael Harrity, a senior and junior respectfully, followed in tow. They won over freshman Sebastian Fras and Junior Jacob Israeli of Shipley with solid 6-1 and 6-2 wins. Being the second match to finish, this put GFS just one win away from the Friends School League Title.

Third singles finished up next, where Shipley was able to take one back. The junior Gator team captain Max Homans won over GFS senior team captain Zak Schneider, 6-1 and 6-2.

The Tigers clinched the championship with a win in second singles. Sophomore Danny Loder scored 6-2 and 6-1 victories over Shipley senior Samson Sands.

With the championship in hand, the second doubles match roared on. GFS’ junior Gray Palmer and senior Aaron Loder toughed out a win over Shipley seniors Zach Bradlow and Dill Howard. GFS won the first match 6-3. Shipley stormed back with a 6-1 win, but GFS bounced back with a 6-1 win to clinch the match.

The teams also played a third doubles exhibition match. Senior Gabe Goldberg and freshman Noah Eisenstein won over Shipley juniors Aaron Liao and Jared Pearlstein, 6-2 and 6-4.

This is the second straight Friends School League Championship for the GFS Tigers.

“This group of guys will never be duplicated. These players were so focused from day one on the concrete goal of repeating our win of last year's league title, a feat that is never easy in any league or in any sport. We worked hard every single day to achieve that goal,” said GFS head coach Justin Gilmore. “More than the winning of the league title, or winning important individual matches, or any of that, the best aspect for me is watching how these young athletes have each other's backs in the most important ways, on and off the courts. I am confident in saying that no other high school tennis team, in any league, supports each other the way that our guys do! And that to me is the ultimate win.”