After six failed attempts, 13th-seeded Latin Academy boys' tennis breaks through to reach Division 3 semifinals
The comebacks lifted the 13th-seeded Dragons (15-6) to an upset victory over No. 5 Medfield (14-3) in the Division 3 quarterfinals at Wimbledon Metrowest Tennis & Pickleball Club in Walpole. Latin Academy faces top-seeded Bedford in a semifinal matchup next week.
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'They are smart players, and they make the most of their talents,' Crane said. 'This was a really tight match that could have gone either way, but just really proud of our doubles guys. To both be down one set and come back, that shows a lot.'
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Senior captain Hewitt Ngo gave the Dragons a strong start, cruising to a 6-2, 6-3 win at second singles. It was the second-straight match Latin needed every point, having survived No. 4 Apponequet by a 3-2 margin just three days earlier.
'We have the depth that we haven't had in the past,' Crane said. 'And it took a while for the team to come together. Our record was good, but we weren't playing our best tennis until we got to the playoffs.'
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For Crane, whose roster draws from schools across the city, the achievement resonated as a milestone in the program's sustained period of success.
'This is a no-cut team with about 35 kids this year. We take all comers and teach even new players a game that they'll play forever,' Crane said. 'And so there's a lot of excitement across the board here about what this team accomplished.'
Matty Wasserman can be reached at
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