Mustang Boys Tennis Sweeps States

The George Mason High School boys tennis team poses with its state championship trophy after winning the title for the third year in a row. Mason boys tennis players swept VHSL Single A competition this weekend at Radford University, with Mason players winning both the singles and doubles tournaments. (Photo: Courtesy Craig Cheney)The George Mason High School boys tennis team won three out of three state championship titles this past weekend in Virginia High School League competition at Radford University. Senior Kan Tagami secured the first title in the singles championship last Thursday, successfully defending the title he won last year. The win ties him for the VHSL record. Junior Tommy Weber and senior Karl Campanella-Dysart, team co-captains, topped the doubles championship Saturday, and the Mason squad won the team tournament that day, making for its third consecutive tennis team state champions and a clean sweep of all Single A boys tennis state titles this year.

“I couldn’t be more proud of our team this year,” said Assistant Coach William Snyder. “Winning all three competitions was truly amazing and rewarding. The boys have spent countless hours improving their game and really deserve these wins.”

Tagami bested John Ferguson from Gate City High School in the semifinals (6-4, 6-1) to move into the finals, where he defeated George Wythe High School’s Rhodes Kline (6-2, 6-2).

“Kan Tagami is an exceptional tennis player and a great man to have on the team,” Snyder said. “He is a senior I believe a lot of the underclassmen look up to, and we will miss his presence next year.”

Weber and Campanella-Dysart dropped the Tanner Fox/Mehmed Numanovic doubles team from Parry McCluer High School in the semis (6-3, 7-5) to advance to the finals. They beat Tanner Crowder and Nick Childers from J.I. Burton High School (6-2, 6-2) to win the doubles title.

“Tommy and Karl are truly a dynamic duo,” Snyder said. “They play extremely well together and both have worked so hard to get where they are today. They are amazing tennis players; I’m excited to see what Tommy will accomplish next year and am going to miss Karl.”

The Mason team faced Rappahannock High School last Friday in the semifinals and won 5-0, then went on to play Glenvar High School Saturday in a championship-winning 5-0 game.

“This title is probably what I am most excited about this year,” Snyder said. “It shows our wide variety of talent across our team and shows that everyone on our team is an amazing player.”

The boys tennis team ends its season with an impressive 18 wins and only two losses.

“I am much honored to coach such a wonderful group of boys this year,” Snyder said. “They are role models on and off the tennis court. They deserve every title they won and I couldn’t be happier for them.”