The boys tennis team entered the county tournaments as one of the top contenders to win, but because Wootton swept the entire tournament, the Bulldogs placed third.

“Everyone worked really hard and performed hard,” head coach Benjamin Woods said. “It is a young team, but they stepped up to the challenge.”

The team did a solid job at counties as many of the players reached the semifinals in each event, but lost to powerhouse schools like Whitman and Wootton. Junior captain Kevin Chu reached the semifinals where he lost in two close sets, 6-3 and 6-4. Also, the number two and three double teams reached the finals, but failed to win. Like Chu, many of the Bulldogs were expecting difficult opponents.

Similar to counties, during the regional tournament, selected players of the Bulldogs faced hard draws. Mixed doubles team, senior captain Jason Teitelbaum and, his sister, sophomore Jill Teitelbaum, lost, along with singles player Chu in the semifinals.

“[Regionals] can only help the team get better,” Woods said. “It can give them more exposure and will bring them greater opportunity to respond.”

Although none of the boys are going to states, junior Lauren Pinsky will play at the state championships, May 30-31, where she placed third last year and hopes to avenge the loss.

“States is going to be tough,” Pinsky said. “There is always good competition.”

The Bulldogs will lose six of its seniors next year, putting them at a disadvantage against rival Wootton who will not lose any of their players.

“Next year, I hope we can win counties, but it may be hard since Wootton is not graduating any starting players,” Chu said. “It will be weird next year without the current seniors. It is already weird without the players from last year.”