Coupeville senior Mason Grove made a stand for public schools Saturday, winning a match at the Emerald City League postseason tourney. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
The season started on windy, rain-spattered outdoor tennis courts in Coupeville, and wrapped up on swanky, dry indoor courts in Redmond.
Six CHS netters made their final stand Saturday at the Emerald City League tournament, which doubles as Bi-Districts.
Facing off with foes from state title contenders like Seattle Academy and University Prep, none of the Wolves advanced, but one did make a dent in the armor of the private schools.
Senior Mason Grove, who bounced between singles and doubles this season, went out swinging by himself, but not before taking down a Bear Creek player in a third-set tiebreaker.
That sent him on to the double-elimination portion of the tourney, but also threw him headlong into battle with two of the best players in the region.
Fellow Wolf singles player Drake Borden almost made it through the first round as well, winning the first set of his match.
His opponent, also from Bear Creek, came back to take the second set however, then won an epic 12-10 tiebreaker to eliminate Coupeville’s #1 player.
Both Wolf doubles duos went down in the first round, bringing an end to the 2019 season.
Saturday was the final action for four Wolves, as Grove, James Wood, Zach Ginnings, and Thane Peterson graduate next spring.
Borden, a junior, and Andrew Aparicio, a sophomore, can return for another run at postseason glory next year.
Coupeville and next door neighbor South Whidbey are the only public schools playing in the ECL, an eight-team, private school dominated league widely regarded as the best 1A tennis conference in the state.
Complete Saturday results:
Drake Borden:
Lost to Bouke Spoelstra (Bear Creek) 1-6, 6-3, 12-10
Mason Grove:
Beat Robert Jiang (Bear Creek) 3-6, 6-3, 10-6
Lost to Tyler Wurzer (University Prep) 6-0, 6-0
Lost to Josh Davydov (Seattle Academy) 6-0, 6-2
James Wood/Zach Ginnings:
Lost to Nicholas Arron/Mattias Keaunui (University Prep) 6-0, 6-0
Andrew Aparicio/Thane Peterson:
Lost to Sammy Yang/Declan Vail (Overlake) 6-0, 6-2
Coupeville Sports 
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