Conrad Weiser's Armaan Malik wins Berks boys tennis singles title
Apr. 22—Conrad Weiser's Armaan Malik defeated Twin Valley's Dylan Bonds by scores of 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 to win the BCIAA Flight 1 singles title Monday at Laureldale.
In the first round of the Flight 1 singles crossover, Malik, a junior on the Scouts, defeated Zach Schrader of Reading High, 3-4, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to his first finals appearance. Bonds defeated Austin Kohler of Wilson, 6-1, 6-1 to reach his second consecutive finals championship.
Malik is the first player from Conrad Weiser to win a singles title since Tommy Meyer did it three times from 2005-07.
"Absolutely amazing," Malik said of the victory. "Obviously I came into today with a lot of nerves. You know you can (win), but it's a matter of what you do and I did it. So, it was great."
On April 3, Malik fell 2-6, 0-6 to Bonds at Sinking Spring which was held indoors due to weather.
However, this time Malik was able to get the best of Bonds after falling in the first set, as he remained composed and fought back to secure the win.
"I knew I had it in me," Malik said. "Two, three weeks ago I was a little sick and I knew that and he played a great match. He was a tough competitor today, but I fought it out and it feels great"
The windy weather was a huge factor in Monday's match for both players as the ball got hung up in the air on multiple occasions.
"Massive, the wind was horrendous," Malik said. "Just had to play through it."
During the third set, it was apparent both players were getting fatigued due to the two-and-a-half-hour match duration.
However, Malik's conditioning background from playing soccer in the fall helped him push through towards the end.
"I play soccer so that definitely saved me and came up huge for me."
Conrad Weiser's coach, Ryan Knarr, has now led both of this year's singles champions in girls (Emma Perkins) and boys tennis.
"I don't have words," Knarr said. "We've had unbelievable players throughout the history of Conrad Weiser tennis these last 15 years. We have never had somebody with the guts, heart, and determination of Armand Malik...He finds that next level and that's the mark of a true champion."
After winning his first singles title, Malik will have a chance to also become a doubles champion with teammate Jio Garcia Tuesday at Laureldale.
"Got to do it again, jobs not finished," Malik said of the upcoming doubles match.
In the Flight 2 final, Daniel Boone's Evan Miller defeated Conrad Weiser's Jio Garcia 6-1, 6-4.
In Flight 3, Wilson's Ethan Mengel defeated Conrad Weiser's Charles Coleman 6-4, 6-4 to claim the title, and in the Flight 4 championship, Wilson's Jason Kaufmann, defeated Conrad Weiser's Charles Coleman 2-6, 6-1, 11-9.
Finally, in the Flight 5 final Wilson's Griffin Saar defeated Conrad Weiser's Owen Hunt 6-3, 6-2.
