Boys tennis: Tam’s Bulger, Redwood doubles win MCAL titles
Tam High’s Witt Bulger dropped the first set, but outlasted Redwood’s Casra Afsharipour, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2, to capture the MCAL tennis boys singles crown at Flyte Racquet Club in San Rafael on Wednesday.
With the team championship already in hand, Afsharipour was chasing additional honors when his body started rebelling in the second set. The Giants freshman won the first set, but started to suffer cramps. He pressed on, but against the top-seeded Bulger, Afsharipour needed to be at his best. Bulger has been enjoying a career season and will carry the MCAL singles banner to the North Coast Section playoffs, which are scheduled to begin Friday.
“These kids represent what great high school tennis looks like,” Redwood coach Craig Flax said. “The sportsmanship was eally impressive. I was especially proud because it was my kids, Redwood, versus everybody, yet everybody was friendly and respectful. And everybody showed up to play. The only bummer of the day was Casra’s injury.”
Redwood players figured in every match played Wednesday.
Branson School senior Chase Hoeveler, the 2024 singles champion, beat Redwood’s Will Greenwald in three sets to claim third place.
The Giants’ top duo of Julian Zhang and Calado Fazal earned a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Branson’s Tommie Higgins and Leighton Fraser for the MCAL doubles crown. The Bulls’ James Stovell and Finn Higgins took third with a three-set win over Redwood’s Tug Ricordel and Liam Martinez.
“The level of play across the board was as high as any you’d see across the country,” Flax said.