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By Dan Hilen, Lakota East Sports Information
The Lakota East Boy’s Tennis team has won the programs first ever GMC Tennis Championship and done so in spectacular fashion. The Thunderhawks topped Lakota West in the post-season league tourney by a 46-44 point total, while going 9-0 in the GMC regular season. Perennial GMC champion Sycamore, finished third with 42 points. Impressively the Hawks finished their schedule with a perfect 17-0 mark. Not since the 1981 season has a Lakota boy’s tennis team won a league title.
"I am so proud of all the boys,” said East head coach Greg Mahlerwein. “This was a complete team effort, with great individual performances from all courts. It's a great accomplishment for Lakota East and for the Lakota District to have East versus West determine the championship of the toughest tennis league in the
State of Ohio.”
All 3 singles championships were between Lakota East and Lakota West in heated, but very respectful rivalries. East’s Zach Mueck exhibited a true act of sportsmanship and character in the 1st singles match. When West opponent and two-time GMC champion Wyatt Lippert’s equipment failed, Mueck loaned him one of his spare racquets to continue the match. Lippert went on to defeat Mueck, 6-3, 7-6, in an emotional battle between the two friends.
In 2nd singles Freddy Abunku continued to prove that he is the best 2nd singles player in the State with a dominating 6-0, 6-0 victory over Martin Burbank of Lakota West winning the 2nd singles crown. Freddy did not lose a single set the entire season. In the 3rd singles Akash Umakantha continued to earn the nickname Mr.Clutch with a 6-3, 7-5 victory in the championship match against Aaron Madaris from Lakota West, which clinched the tournament title for East and a first place in the 3rd singles category.
The East 1st doubles team of captain Matt Witzman and Prince Abunku earned a second place falling in a second set tiebreaker to the top-rated Sycamore team in the championship match. The comeback kids (who twice during the season came back from 0-5 deficits to win sets) pushed back from 4-5 to get to the tiebreaker, but Sycamore prevailed. In 2nd doubles Connor Fraley and Mitch Noufer suffered a surprise upset by Middletown in the first round in a third set tiebreaker, but recovered to win 3 back draw matches earning 5th place.
The future of East tennis looks very bright. “What's just as exciting is that we should have every player on varsity back next year,” said Mahlerwein who received GMC Coach of the Year honors. In the upcoming Sectionals Zach Mueck is the #2 seed and Freddy Abunku is the #3 seed in singles to be played Tuesday at Mason High School. The team of Matt Witzman and Akash Umakantha is the #4 seed in doubles. Lakota East will play Centerville in the 4th round (sweet 16) of the state team tournament on Wednesday. The winner will then play (probably defending state champion St. Xavier) with a chance to go to the final four in Columbus on the line.
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