St. Xavier Tennis Clinches 2026 Coaches Team Tournament Championship

St. Xavier High School's tennis program is celebrating a significant victory as they secured the Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division I team tournament title on May 30 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center. This triumph follows their recent achievement of winning the OHSAA Division I state doubles championship, marking the end of a 16-year wait for a team title, with their last victory dating back to 2009.

The Bombers demonstrated their prowess in the semifinals, where they swiftly defeated University School with a score of 3-0. Key contributions came from singles players Carson Dwyer and Nihal Narisetty, along with the second doubles team of David Ivanov and Gus Demis. Advancing to the finals, St. Xavier faced Olentangy Orange, who had edged out St. John's Jesuit in a tight 3-2 match.

Continuing their strong performance, St. Xavier clinched the championship against Olentangy Orange with a 3-1 victory. Dwyer and Narisetty, who had previously earned the state doubles title, showcased their skills by winning their singles matches decisively with scores of 6-0, 6-1. Although Demis and Ivanov lost in two sets, the first doubles team of Conor Lynch and Henry Brandt secured the championship by winning in straight sets.

Reflecting on the team's legacy, head coach Joseph Jackson stated, "I came into this 10 years ago, and I stand on the shoulders of giants who came before me." Jackson and his players are now a part of the esteemed history of St. Xavier tennis as champions of the 2026 OTCA team tournament.

In the Division II tournament taking place simultaneously, Indian Hill advanced to the finals after defeating Pepper Pike Orange 3-1. OHSAA Division II doubles champions Neelan Gandhi and Gareth Kurowski excelled in their singles matches, with second doubles teammates Jeremy Starczynowski and Yousef Moussa also contributing to the win. Indian Hill faced Bexley in the finals, but despite their doubles teams performing well, Bexley’s singles players secured three victories to claim the championship. This marks Indian Hill's third consecutive appearance in the OTCA team tournament finals, having finished as runners-up in 2025 and winning in 2024.