Knights Handle Thomas Jefferson to Win District Title

The Barstow boys tennis team faced off in record May heat against a recent two-time Final Four Class 2 team, Thomas Jefferson Independent, at the Barstow courts on Wednesday and dripped off with a 5-0 win.  The Knights, big fans of cold, wind and oppressive heat "brought it" at the beginning with some of the top to bottom best doubles they have played all year.  The Knights swarmed the net, found their best first serving % of the year and made the statement early against the second best Class 2 team on the western side of the state.

At #1 doubles senior Richey King and sophomore Sankeerth Gandhari broke away at 3-2 to win to reel off 5 of the next six games for an 8-3 win.  Facing an unusual #2 doubles team with TJ's strongest player at #2 doubles, junior George Colombo and freshman Bobby King ran off the first 7 games in a rw before finishing with an impressive 8-3 win.  

At #3 doubles, facing TJ's second best doubles player, the upset of the day came from junior Aaram Salam and freshman Liam Groden.   Liam and Aaram took an early lead and never let up.  With steady serves and a strong baseline game the boys won 8-5, leaving only tho points to move the team on to sectionals.  Richey King brought a big serve and impressive baseline game against a  strong #1 opponent for a  6-0, 6-1 win.    At #2, Bobby. King cleared the table with a strong ground game and aggressive net game to wrap up the trip to sectionals 6-0, 6-1.  

When the match was called both Sunny Gandhari and George Colombo at #'s 3 and 4 had won their first set.  

The Knights move on to play the winner of District 5 AT BARSTOW on Monday at  4:00.  Congratulations Knights!