Masterman beats Central to win Public League tennis championship

The Masterman boys' tennis team continued its magical season Tuesday with a 4-1 victory over Central in the Public League championship. Central had won the previous 11 Public League titles.

Jonathan Nottingham, Anthony Chaiditya, and Kailash Natarajan won their singles matches for Masterman, which beat Central twice during the regular season. Masterman's second doubles team of Jacob Luterman and Nalin Khanna took down Huihuang Zhu and Alexander O'Conner, 6-1, 6-0.

Masterman will play Bonner-Prendergast for the District 12 Class 2A title at 2 p.m. Thursday at Abraham Lincoln High School. Last year, Masterman fell to New Hope-Solebury in the first round of the PIAA state playoffs.

"I walked into a great bunch of guys," said Masterman coach Tracy Tooke, who took over the program this year after stints as the women's tennis coach at West Chester, Temple, and George Washington University. "They're smart, hardworking, and talented."

The team has battled through some wild weather this spring to reach this point.

"We were out there practicing in the snow," Tooke said. "I'm so proud of them and honored to be a part of the Masterman boys' tennis program."

Central's first doubles duo of Joe Trachtman and Xu Chen defeated Andrea Ngjela and Drew Rizzo-Reidy, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.

Central coach Mike Horwits said he was proud of his players but also showed respect for the winners. "Masterman really deserved this," Horwits said. "They played their hearts out. We wish them the best of luck going forward."

Central will take on La Salle for the District 12 Class 3A crown on Thursday (3:15 p.m.) at Lincoln High. Central is looking to make it back to states after losing to Unionville in the first round last year.