On Nov. 3, the school’s tennis team won the University Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 6A State Championship at Texas A&M University in College Station. Led by Head Coach Morgen Walker and Assistant Coach Mike Bischoff, the team rallied to defeat Houston Memorial High School in team play by a margin of 10-6. This is the tennis team’s fifth State title in West history, the first since 2006.

Quotes from the Court

What is the one thing you will remember about winning the State Championship?

“The team. The accomplishment was really great in itself, but the family environment that we created in the process of getting to State and winning that State title was the thing that led to our success.” – Eric Lee, senior

How did you react to Alyssa Grubstein’s Girls Singles win, the tenth match that won West the State title?

“Before, I was just shocked. I was sitting on the bleachers and I was so nervous I couldn’t move. When Alyssa won, everyone started yelling and screaming, but I ran straight on the court so I could go hug her and tell her ‘good job’.” – Emily Kim, senior

What was your immediate reaction to winning State?

“When we won State, I was on top of the world. Everyone was just so happy. We were all in tears. We all knew how much this meant to not only coach but past players, since this was the first State title in 10 years. It was definitely one of the proudest moments of my life.” – Dallas Bennet, junior

What made this tennis season successful?

“When you get a big group of people with a common goal that are willing to get out there and work hard for it, good things are going to happen. Sometimes you get to the State tournament and win the whole thing, and you really feel like everything you’ve done and all the sacrifices you’ve made are worth it. Getting there and winning it again, it doesn’t seem like it’s been 10 years.” – Morgen Walker, Coach.

Results

Plano West defeats Houston Memorial, 10-6

Boys Singles

Caden Moortgat (PW) defeats Andrew Esses (HM) (6-3, 6-3)

Mark Kanevsky (PW) defeats Anthony Hyunh (HM) (5-7, 6-4, 10-3)

Artur Zigman (HM) defeats Davis Housman (PW) (7-5, 6-1)

Neil Mabee (HM) defeats Eric Lee (PW) (6-1, 6-1)

Girls Singles

Emily Kim (PW) defeats Natalia Dimitrijevic (HM) (6-2, 6-2)

Ally Zhang (PW) defeats Chloe Sands (HM) (6-3, 6-1)

Divya Manohar (PW) defeats Natalie Hur (HM) (6-4, 6-1)

Jo Jo Thai (PW) defeats Maya Prakash (HM) (6-1, 6-2)

Alyssa Grubstein (PW) defeats Sarah Mabee (HM) (6-7, 6-1, 10-3)

Boys Doubles

Esses-Zigman (HM) defeats Kanevsky-Moortgat (PW) (7-5, 1-6, 10-7)

Westwick-Hyunh (HM) defeats Arvind-Sites (PW) (6-3, 6-2)

Mabee-Graves (HM) defeats Cole-Housman (PW) (6-2, 6-2)

Girls Doubles

Grubstein-Kim (PW) defeats Sands-Prakash (HM) (6-0, 6-0)

Manohar-Thai (PW) defeats Vu-Hur (HM) (6-0, 6-1)

Bennett-Zhang (PW) defeats Mabee-Solovyeva (HM) (7-5, 7-6)

Mixed Doubles

Rassner-Dimitrijevic (HM) defeats Moghe-Moore (PW) (6-1, 6-1)