The Virginia Class A State Champion boys varsity tennis team from George Mason High School started its season by splitting its first two matches. As part of what new head coach Steve Goetting refers to as “a kind of spring training,” many of the younger players are taking their first turns on the court, while the five returning seniors take their time getting loose and look to add to their record 11 state titles.
Seniors Alex Goetting and Xavier Alarcon have reunited as doubles partners to start the season and have returned to their winning ways, claiming the decisive victory in a 5-4 team win over Washington-Lee on March 9.
The teams newest additions, including freshmen Sam Atkeson, Thomas Burnett and Tim Goetz have been applauded by their coach for their early contributions, with Steve Goetting also noting that Goetz will likely crack the lineup as the team’s No. 6 player behind seniors Goetting, Alarcon, Daniel Butler, Daniel Lim and Thomas Yancey.
The Mustangs also took on J.E.B. Stuart on Tuesday, March 13, falling by the margin of 6-3. The team faced Falls Church High School on Wednesday, March 14, though results were not available at press time.
The Region B Champion girls team from George Mason began its season against Washington-Lee, hoping to improve on their state runner-up status from 2006. With No. 1 player Michelle Repper absent as she competes in a stretch of USTA-sanctioned events, Washington-Lee bested the Mustangs 6-0 in singles and then 3-0 in doubles to begin the season. Mason turned the tables in its second match of the season against J.E.B. Stuart on Tuesday, sweeping both singles and doubles matches. Anna Duning and Kelsey Kane both prevailed in their singles matches, as well as in top doubles, while Margaret Lipman, Yesha Shrestha, Alina Kaye and Louise Robinson each tallied singles wins.
Annie Zweighaft teamed with Shrestha to prevail 8-2 at No. 2 doubles, while Sarah Meyers paired with Kaye to win at No. 3 doubles.
Away from the team, Repper is currently ranked in the USTA Top 40 for the Mid-Atlantic region for the 16 and under division. According to Mason Head Coach Chris Madison, she will compete in all of Mason’s district matches, as well as a select number of non-district competitions, including against Holton Arms Wednesday, March 21. The team faced Falls Church on Wednesday, March 14. Results were not available at press time.
Marshall Sweeps South Lakes in Opener
The George C. Marshall High School varsity girls tennis team claimed their first match of the year 9-0 over South Lakes.
