St. John’s Prep ends boys tennis title drought, tops Concord-Carlisle

CAMBRIDGE— One could usually count on the St. John’s Prep boys tennis team to be in the running for a state title.

Until Saturday, however, the Eagles last hoisted the trophy in 2001.

St. John’s Prep ended that drought with a 4-1 victory over Concord-Carlisle for the MIAA Division 1 crown at MIT’s DuPont Courts.

“A year ago, when we got on the bus after losing to Lexington (in the state semifinals) we said we weren’t going to let it happen again,” said St. John’s coach Mark Metropolis. “The kids worked hard all year for this.”

St. John’s finished its season at 21-0, its first undefeated campaign since 1995. C-C, the second seed, wrapped up its season at 14-4. The Eagles defeated C-C 3-2 earlier this season.

Jack Prokopis clinched the match with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Ben Ostrosky at second singles, avenging an earlier defeat.

“I just played my match,” Prokopis  said. “I just used my serve and volley.”

The Eagles won at third singles with Luke Free defeating Charles  Derkazarian, 6-2, 6-1.

The second doubles team of Mark McDuffee and Alex Melville defeated Pedro Nacbin and TJ Fahey, 6-2, 6-2.

“Second doubles set the tone,” Metropolis said.

The Eagles’ first doubles tandem of Luke Prokopis and Boris Kouzminov won 6-3, 7-5 against Dan Lynch and Armando Samani.

C-C’s first singles player Lucas Bikkesbakker won for the Patriots, defeating John DeAngelis, 6-4, 6-1.