By Nikolas Daly ’19

The Chaminade Varsity A tennis team defeated St. Anthony’s on Wednesday, May 10 to capture the NCHSAA League Championship.  In a fierce match-up between the two rivals, the Flyers rolled to a 5-2 set win, earning their largest margin of victory over the Friars all season.  This stunning victory allowed Chaminade to extend an impressive streak as champions, as they claimed their fourth consecutive league title.

​In pursuit of winning the championship, the team relied heavily on hard work and a competitive spirit.  In addition, head coach Mr. Daniel Petruccio made a few key changes before the match began.

“After playing St. Anthony’s five times this season, I felt we were evenly matched heading into the finals.  In order to gain an edge, we tried to find the right combination for the third doubles pair and tried a new duo,” said Mr. Petruccio.

This crucial pair was composed of James Coccaro ’18 and James Coppola ’18, who won their match in two sets with scores of 6-3 and 7-5.

​The rest of the Flyers, inspired by this successful change, were also motivated to propel the team to victory.  Their struggles with the Friars earlier this season gave them an additional push.  

“After a loss to St. Anthony’s early in the season, we were determined not to let it happen again.  We made some adjustments, practiced hard, and were able to win in the finals against our rival when it mattered most,” explained Evan Brady ’19.

​Evan is the only sophomore on the Varsity A squad and will play a major role next year as the Flyers look to continue their success by attaining their fifth championship in a row.  The intensity demonstrated by the Flyers throughout this season, especially in this strong finish, is a testament to their impressive abilities and persistence.  These factors all contributed to the sound defeat of their rivals from Huntington, earning them yet another hard-earned league title.