Wild Boars Repeat As KITT Champions

On Sunday, April 7, the Choate boys' varsity tennis team secured back-to-back championships at the 29th Annual Kingswood-Oxford Invitational Tennis Tournament. The two-day event, played mostly indoors in West Hartford, Connecticut, featured six prep school and two public high school teams, including a number of Choate's traditional rivals.

Choate co-captain Jeremy Zuidema '02 won the #1 singles flight, defeating players from Conard High School, Hotchkiss School, and Kingswood-Oxford en route to the title. The squad's other captain, Stefan Patrikis '02, fared similarly well, winning the #2 division by beating his counterparts from Hall High School, Lawrenceville School, and Deerfield Academy. Mauricio Osorio '04 finished third in the #3 singles and Karl Blunden '04 was the finalist in the #4 singles.

The Wild Boars also swept both doubles flights. Messrs. Patrikis and Zuidema paired to take the #1 division, beating Hotchkiss in the semifinal and the host team in the final. Julian Baccash '02 and Mark Goldberg '03 combined at #2 doubles and posted wins over Westminster, Deerfield, and Hotchkiss pairs.

Detailed match information is available by clicking here.

"I was especially pleased that we took both doubles crowns, as that has been our primary focus the past couple of weeks and it reflects the emphasis we place on the team aspect of our sport," observed Choate coach Ned Gallagher. "Our experience this weekend also revealed a few areas in need of improvement and we'll get right to work on those things as we prepare for the dual matches to come."

2002 KITT Photo Gallery

Displaying Their Hardware.
From left: Mauricio Osorio '04 (3rd place, #3 singles); Karl Blunden '04 (finalist, #4 singles); co-captain Stefan Patrikis '02 (champion, #2 singles and #1 doubles); co-captain Jeremy Zuidema '02 (champion, #1 singles and #1 doubles); Julian Baccash '02 (champion, #2 doubles); and Mark Goldberg '03 (champion, #2 doubles).

#1 Singles Champion.
Co-captain Jeremy Zuidema '02 in action.

#2 Singles Champion.
Co-captain Stefan Patrikis '02 prepares to return serve.

#4 Singles Finalist.
Karl Blunden '04 rallies.

#1 Doubles Champions.
Stefan Patrikis '02 smashes the ball while Jeremy Zuidema '02 looks on at net.

#1 Doubles Champions.
Mark Goldberg '03 puts away a volley as teammate Julian Baccash '02 charges the net.

[ 2002 Boys Tennis results | Choate Tennis Home Page ]

Produced by the Sports Information Office, Department of Athletics, Choate Rosemary Hall.
Last revised: 08 April 2002
Copyright © 2002 Choate Rosemary Hall. All rights reserved.

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