Menlo School captures CIF USTA State Boys Tennis Championships title

Winning state was always a goal since last year when they suffered a 4-3 loss to University. Making sure that they put one foot in front of the other was key to their success this season. 

“This year, we did a good job of staying focused on the present,” said Yuanye Ma, Menlo’s No.1 player, and one of four team captains. “Even though states has been a goal since the first practice, we were focused on each day to day goal.” 

This season, the Knights won the National All-American Invitational, CIF Nor Cal, CCS, WBAL, the Bay Area Classic, and their host Bill Shine Invitational

“I was getting very emotional before the match,” Ma said. “This season is what I look forward to each year. Coming into this match, I knew it would be my last shot, and win or lose, my last high school match. It means so much.”  

For the senior captains, Ma, Arki Temsamani, Brad Engel and Matthew Franc, it was the best possible way to end their prep careers.

“Menlo tennis has been one of the greatest experiences through high school. In middle school, I was always looking forward to it, but when I was younger, I didn’t know if I had a future in tennis,” Temsamani said. 

“The second I stepped foot on the Menlo varsity, all I can say is it was life-changing. I love this sport. I love the brotherhood, and everyone looking out for each other. Everyone has to do their part to make it count.’’  

“I was happy to take care of the match and be able to cheer on my teammates,” junior Lucas Huang said. “Going into this season everyone was very motivated, knowing all the hard work we were putting in, early-morning lifts, in practices - all to get back to this moment and change what happened.”  

Once they won the All-American Invitational, all eyes were on Menlo as the one to beat all season. 

“We knew the job wasn’t finished,” Huang said. “From the Bill Shine Invitational and going to the All-America tournament and winning for the first time for this team was really special, we knew we had to come in take care of business in the postseason, league, CCS and NorCals, and it all paid off.”    

Championship results

Menlo 6, Havard-Westlake 1

Ma (M) d. Aiden Zadeh 6-4, 6-3,

Surya De Datta (M) d. Connor Yang 6-2, 2-6, 6-3

Huang (M) d. Gideon Ames 6-0, 6-1

David Lipeles (M) d. Zach Figlin 6-3, 4-6, 10-6

Temsamani and Maximus Chan d. Chase Klugo and Aaron Chung 6-4, 7-6 (3)

Elliott Meth and Andrew Esralian (HW) d. Miles Burnett and Riley Huang 6-4, 7-5

Sage Ash and Alex Zhou (M) d. Andrrew Anousheh and Kieran Anderson 6-3, 7-5