Thomas Jefferson boys tennis team earns playoff berth
Keegan Shudy and Jake Mascaro are taking part in not just one but two WPIAL postseason tournaments for Thomas Jefferson.
Shudy, a senior who plays first singles, and Mascaro, junior who plays second singles, teamed up to place second at the Section 5-AA doubles tournament last week at Keystone Oaks. That earned the duo a WPIAL tournament qualifying berth. The WPIAL Class AA doubles tournament begins 1 p.m. today at North Allegheny, when Shudy and Mascaro play Beaver Area's Tim Dikec and Connor Shallcross in a first-round match.
Four days from now, the WPIAL team tournaments begin. Thomas Jefferson clinched a playoff spot two weeks ago. The top three finishers in the tournament advance to the PIAA team tournament later this month.
In addition to Shudy and Mascaro, Thomas Jefferson's lineup includes junior Brendon Ward at third singles, sophomore twins Rit Gupta and Sam Gupta at first doubles and junior John Haw and sophomore Jack Rodeheaver at second doubles.
"This is a really good group of kids to work with," veteran coach Chuck Correll said. "They really like to play; I don't have to twist their arms... and that's a good thing. Obviously, we only have one senior, so next year we basically have our whole team back, which will be nice."
Shudy, a senior who plays first singles, and Mascaro, junior who plays second singles, teamed up to place second at the Section 5-AA doubles tournament last week at Keystone Oaks. That earned the duo a WPIAL tournament qualifying berth. The WPIAL Class AA doubles tournament begins 1 p.m. today at North Allegheny, when Shudy and Mascaro play Beaver Area's Tim Dikec and Connor Shallcross in a first-round match.
Four days from now, the WPIAL team tournaments begin. Thomas Jefferson clinched a playoff spot two weeks ago. The top three finishers in the tournament advance to the PIAA team tournament later this month.
In addition to Shudy and Mascaro, Thomas Jefferson's lineup includes junior Brendon Ward at third singles, sophomore twins Rit Gupta and Sam Gupta at first doubles and junior John Haw and sophomore Jack Rodeheaver at second doubles.
"This is a really good group of kids to work with," veteran coach Chuck Correll said. "They really like to play; I don't have to twist their arms... and that's a good thing. Obviously, we only have one senior, so next year we basically have our whole team back, which will be nice."
tennis