Max Manthou knows all about getting to the state tennis tournament through the front door.
Now, Paul Yi and Vineeth Omkaram know that feeling, too.
Manthou, the Kentwood High junior who already had two Class 4A West Central District titles, made it three on Saturday afternoon when he defeated Kentridge junior Matt Overland in the finals at Sprinker Recreation Center, 6-0, 6-4.
KR’s Yi and Omkaram played their way to a crown, as well. One year after having to win a pair of loser-out boys doubles matches just to make state, the two Charger juniors will go this time as district champions. The Kentridge combo took care of Bellarmine Prep seniors Connor Gavin and Andrew Herron in the finals, 6-3, 6-1.
Their title-match victory helped the Chargers earn a share of the boys team title with Bellarmine. Both schools finished with 25 points. Kentwood was fifth with 11 points, and Kentlake tied for 10th with two points.
Manthou, Overland, Yi and Omkaram will head to the Tri-Cities this coming week for the state tournament. Competition at the Tri-City Court Club and Kamiakin High School, both in Kennewick, begins Friday and concludes Saturday.
Manthou will be going for his third boys singles title in as many years. Overland finished third last year. Yi and Omkaram were eliminated in two straight matches.
Kentwood freshman Tess Manthou and Kentridge senior Kim Quach will be off to Kennewick, as well. They squared off in the consolation final on Saturday, with Manthou securing fourth place with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-1 victory. Quach will go as West Central’s sixth-place entry.
After not meeting in either of the two KR-KW regular-season matches this spring, Quach and Manthou were on opposite sides of the net for the second straight week. They met in the South Puget Sound League tournament, with Quach winning, 6-3, 7-6 (10-8).
Kentwood tied for fifth in the girls team standings with 11 points, and Kentridge shared 11th place with five points.
Manthou and Overland also faced each other in last year’s West Central tourney, albeit in the quarterfinals. Manthou won that one, 6-0, 6-0. They played again a week later in the state semifinals, with Manthou prevailing, 6-3, 6-1.
Yi and Omkaram didn’t drop a set and lost just 12 games total in their four district matches.
Kentridge’s Garrett Ballou earned the alternate spot to state in boys singles. Tahoma’s Maria Bahlenhorst and Sierra Southworth are the alternates in girls doubles.
Final boys team results
1. (tie) Kentridge and Bellarmine Prep-25
3. Olympia-14
4. Gig Harbor-13
5. Kentwood-11
6. Todd Beamer-10
7. Auburn-8
8. Thomas Jefferson-6
9. Puyallup-5
10. (tie) Central Kitsap, Kentlake, Federal Way-2
Boys singles (top 6 to state)
1st and 2nd: Max Manthou-KW d Matt Overland-KR 6-0, 6-4
3rd and 5th: Joseph de la Cruz-TB d Max Jiganti-GH 4-6, 6-4, 6-3
4th and 6th: Andrew Anderson-GH d Hunter Woods-Oly 6-1, 6-1
alternate to state: Garrett Ballou-KR d Alex Vogt-BP 6-3, 6-3
Boys doubles (top 6 to state)
1st and 2nd: Yi/Omkaram-KR d Gavin/A.Herron-BP 6-3, 6-1
3rd and 5th: Jeter/Hanley-Aub d Iyengar/S.Herron-BP 6-3, 6-2
4th and 6th: Williams/Lindgren-Oly d Pinkard/Pinkard-Puy 2-6, 6-0, 6-4
alternate to state: Lee/Dolan-BP d Rosa/Rosa-TJ 6-4, 6-4
Final girls team results
1. Bellarmine Prep-18
2. South Kitsap-17
3. Decatur-15
4. Auburn-10
5. (tie) Thomas Jefferson, Kentwood, Puyallup-9
8. (tie) Tahoma, Central Kitsap, Olympia-6
11. (tie) Curtis, Kentridge-5
13. Todd Beamer-4
14 (tie) Bethel, Graham Kapowsin-2
Girls singles (top 6 to state)
1st and 2nd: Meghan Cassens-Dec d Rae Cochreham-SK 6-2, 6-2
3rd and 5th: Sandy Dennett-Aub d Corinne Wurden-CK 3-6, 6-2, 6-4
4th and 6th: Tess Manthou-KW d Kim Quach-KR 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
alternate to state: Katelyn Orchard-Oly d Sara Lin-Dec 2-6, 6-4, 6-1
Girls doubles (top 6 to state)
1st and 2nd: Galbraith/Shonnard-BP d Brown/Sullivan-Puy 6-0, 6-1
3rd and 5th: Helms/Hulscher-SK d Adams/Klein-BP 6-3, 6-4
4th and 6th: Qualls/Min-TJ d Teigen/Betteridge-Cur 6-0, 6-7 (3), 6-2
alternate to state: Bahlenhorst/Southworth-Tah d Canfield/Sutcliff-TB 6-3, 6-4
