Kentwood High junior Max Manthou stayed at the top of the tennis ladder, and Matt Overland, a Kentridge junior, climbed another rung.

Manthou made it three straight 4A boys singles state championships Saturday afternoon, downing Overland, his 6-2, 7-6, in the finals at the Tri-City Court Club in Kenniwick.

Manthou became the ninth boy at all classification levels to put three state tennis titles into the books. And he’s now in position to join a current group of five who have four championships if he can finish his prep career with another one next spring.

Winning for a third time, Manthou said,”This was probably my most special state championship because I had most of my friends there.”

Those friends were nice enough to dump Manthou in a nearby swimming pool 10 minutes after winning the third title.

On a day that reached nearly 100 degrees, it was the perfect capper to a flawless tournament for Manthou.

“My friends kept telling me, ‘We have a surprise for you by the outdoor tennis court and (my friend) wouldn’t let me go into the bathroom to change,” Manthou said. “Then another one of my friends picked me up, carried me on his shoulders, dangling through the private club. It was kind of embarrassing, and tossed me in the pool. Once I was in, I didn’t want to get out.”

Manthou is 12 for 12 in state matches and has made a verbal commitment to the University of Washington.