EVERETT — The Jackson High School boys tennis team notched a 7-0 win against Kamiak on Monday with four matches that ended in double bagels.
The Wesco 4A victory marked the Timberwolves’ sixth shutout this season, and Jackson improved its undefeated league record to 8-0 and its overall status to 10-1. Kamiak dropped to 5-4 overall and 4-3 in league play.
With the season entering the midway point this week, both teams decided to modify their lineups in preparation for the postseason to figure out potential pairings.
Jackson senior Ben Lee, who typically plays singles, joined freshman Sam Song at first doubles. They topped juniors Levi Seslar and Dylan Kim 6-2, 6-1, Kamiak’s usual No. 1 and 2 singles players.
The Timberwolves’ first, third and fourth singles players, junior David Song and sophomores Sharuya Yadav and Rajveer Lahankar, and second doubles team, junior Ashton Bergman and sophomore Arhan Sinha, made quick work of their opponents 6-0, 6-0.
Freshman Chris Cho and junior Andrew Lee topped Kamiak seniors Sal Kakar and Willy Durbin 6-3, 6-0 in third doubles. Sophomore Saurish Srivastava topped Kamiak junior Taylor Pyun 7-6 (7-4) in the first set in second singles before Pyun retired in the second due to an injury.
District and state titles within reach for Jackson
Only six players, two singles and two doubles teams, advance to the postseason. For the rest of October until districts in November, the Timberwolves will make the most of their court time together, celebrating the efforts of their five seniors who leave the program after this school year.
One of the Jackson graduates is Lee, who for the past three years has not only qualified for the state tournament in singles but has also earned three top-five finishes. Lee placed fifth as a freshman in spring of 2022, first as a sophomore in 2023 and second as a junior in 2024. His results helped lead Jackson to a first-place team trophy in 2022 and 2024 and second-place trophy in 2023.
Bergman, a sophomore last season, teamed up with then-freshman Andy Stark to place eighth in doubles.
“The seniors, they’ve established themselves. Every year they want to win districts and see how many guys you can take to state,” Jackson coach David Hutt said. “(With Ben), I call it giving back to the team, being someone who is helpful to other players. Players look up to him. … He’s one of the top players in the state. You never know what’s going to happen with the draws and where people will end up. But I’d like to see him hopefully get to another final. He’s been to two finals in a row. … So the goal is I’d like to see him get to a final and get another shot to take first or second.
“Winning breeds winning,” he continued. “The guys realistically know if we could take two singles, two doubles teams, we’re going to be first, second or third. We’re good enough to be that. … If things fall right and guys grind it out and play pretty well, you’re going to win a state tournament. If we get everybody to Saturday, we’ll probably win it all.”
For Lee, his goal is to hit his way back to the championship match for another chance at a state title, but it’s also not worrying about outside factors.
“There’s always expectations and pressure going into every single match, no matter how hard or easy it is,” Lee said. “I’m going in, just taking one match at a time, playing my game, not thinking about the expectations because those come after you play. … You go in being confident with your game so you know what to expect. And if they throw something unexpected, then you adapt. … That’s what tennis is about, adapting and making sure you’re doing something the opponent doesn’t know about.”
Kamiak coach Jeff Gilbert has faced Lee and the Timberwolves numerous times, and in 2022 and 2023, his Knights came as close as one match shy of topping the Wesco 4A challengers. Gilbert lauded Lee on his play and said he’s set the bar for what the best of Snohomish County and Washington state tennis represents.
“What’s great about a guy like Ben is not only is he extraordinarily talented, he’s got a lot of experience. He also works hard. After we get done with our match, he’s out, and he’s playing additional matches. So that’s how you get to be great,” Gilbert said. “And so what I’m telling my guys is, ‘Look at that. See that.’ Whether you guys have come in not having near the experience of Ben, if you’re willing to work as hard as he does, then you can get to a different level.”
At Jackson H.S.
Singles: David Song (J) def. Chris McCullough 6-0, 6-0; Saurish Srivastava (J) def. Taylor Pyun 7-6 (7-4), retired; Sharuya Yadav (J) def. Jaiden Kim 6-0, 6-0; Rajveer Lahankar (J) def. Alvin Tran 6-0, 6-0. Doubles: Ben Lee-Sam Song (J) def. Levi Seslar-Dylan Kim 6-2, 6-1; Ashton Bergman-Arhan Sinha (J) def. Kaden Wu-Edward Hammar 6-0, 6-0; Chris Cho-Andrew Lee (J) def. Sal Kakar-Willy Durbin 6-3, 6-0.
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