Columbus Academy boys tennis beats Bexley for OTCA Division II district title repeat
Columbus Academy boys tennis standout Nason Lo decided months ago that he would play singles in the OHSAA postseason, and with that decision came moments like Friday.
The Ohio Tennis Coaches Association Division II district final against visiting Bexley came down to the second singles match between Lo and Sam Lessard, although for a while it did not appear that would be the case.
But once the third singles match went to three sets, Lo got an idea that the Vikings’ second straight district championship and third in four seasons rode on his result. The giveaway? A dozen Academy players lined up to his next court in support, and dozens more joined them in chanting Lo’s name after every point in a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 win that clinched a 3-1 team victory and sent the Vikings (15-4) to next Saturday’s state tournament at the College of Wooster.
“It got really packed,” said Lo, a sophomore who was third in doubles in last year’s individual state tournament with older brother Rowen and will face Bexley freshman Henry Lessard for the district singles championship Saturday at Academy. “I like it when I’m up, but when I’m down I don’t bring the energy as much. When I’m (ahead), I do. I worked up enough energy to start coming back.”
Academy’s other wins came in doubles.
Sophomore Ian Chang and junior Rowen Lo swept junior Aaron Jones and senior Emmett Pliskin 6-4, 6-0 at first doubles. Sophomore Jayden Tsao and freshman Sujan Billakanty fended off Bexley junior Max Almasanu and sophomore Adrian Schiff 6-4, 7-5 at second doubles.
OTCA matches end when one team wins three matches.
“We knew we would be competitive on every single court; that was our goal … give everyone a chance to fight, and that’s what they did,” Academy coach Preston Eberlyn said. “When you lose in the regular season to a team, if you get the chance to play them again, you don’t want to lose again. What that does is let you know the competition and helped prepare the way for this match.”
Bexley, which defeated Academy 3-2 on April 18 in Central Buckeye League play, was seeking its first OTCA state berth since 2022.
Friday was the third consecutive district final between the teams.
Academy will face Hunting Valley University School or Pepper Pike Orange in one state semifinal. The other will pit two-time defending champion Cincinnati Indian Hill against Lexington.
The first- and third-place matches are later in the day.
Henry Lessard brought Bexley (14-9) its only win, coming from behind to beat Lucas Xue 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 at first singles.
At third singles, Academy junior Jacob Khvalsky won the first set and Bexley senior Oscar Ramsden took the second before Nason Lo’s clinching win.
“We knew we were really, really evenly matched with them and that it would come down to some three-setters,” Bexley coach Will Gingery said. “Our kids played great, but Academy brought the energy and played better against us today.”
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Academy boys tennis beats Bexley for return trip to state
