'They loved every minute': Led by singles star, Duxbury boys tennis claims D-2 state title
Same court. Same opponent. Same day every year.
On Sunday, Duxbury High boys tennis team collided with Westborough in the Division 2 state championship on the DuPont Courts at MIT on Sunday for the third consecutive season.
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In 2023, Duxbury won a competitive back-and-forth match. In 2024, Westborough did the same.
This year, the Duxbury seniors brought their best.
Led by Tim Vargas and Bennett Stout, two singles stars bound for the college ranks next spring, the fourth-seeded Dragons swept seventh-seeded Westborough to capture the sixth state championship in program history.
'They played their best tennis on the biggest stage," head coach John Bunar said.
Vargas, who will continue his career at Colgate University in New York next year, won his first singles match decisively (6-0, 6-0). Stout (second singles) and senior Taylor Bettencourt (third singles) also won each of their matchups -- 6-1, 6-0.
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The doubles duos of sophomore Willie Pierce and senior Peter Burnham (first; 7-5, 4-6, 10-7) and junior Nick Gallagher and sophomore Lucas Pratt (seconds; 6-4, 6-3) also took their matches to seal the championship win.
'We went down hard (last year)," said Vargas. "To come back and win, especially against Westborough, it's very special.'
'The sweep is the best way to win, seeing everyone do their thing and take care of business," Bettencourt said.
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Stout won a 15-volley final point to clinch his individual match -- Duxbury's third overall team point of the day -- and the state championship officially.
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As a junior last year, Stout made the Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic team alongside then-senior Tucker Catalano in doubles, going 12-0 in the run to the Division 2 final. Stout, who will play at St. Lawrence University in college, bumped up to second singles this season following his former partner's graduation.
'He's got an all-purpose game and he worked on it more," Bunar said of Stout. "I think (the new spot) suits him well. He made the jump all the way to (No.) 2 and he won at 2.'
Duxbury boys tennis players and coaches celebrate winning the Division 2 state championship vs. Westborough at MIT on Sunday, June 15, 2025.
Prior to when this group of seniors were on the team that it all in 2023, the Dragons' last previous state championship came in 2013. Before that, Duxbury won in 1990, 1984 and 1981.
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Duxbury won 13 straight matches to open the season, and went on a playoff run that featured triumphs No. 29 Billerica Memorial, No. 13 Marblehead, No. 5 Wayland, No. 1 Hopkinton and No. 7 Westborough en route to the title win.
'I'm just so grateful for (this program) and the fact we play tennis, and are successful, and we had the opportunity to come here (to the state championship at MIT) frequently and play on the highest stage," Bettencourt said. "It's so much fun.'
Duxbury graduates an eight-man senior class: Vargas, Bettencourt, Stout, Burnham, Jared Campbell, William Marani, Christopher McWilliams and Noah Williamson.
'They gave an example of wanting to be on the tennis court for hours," Bunar said of the seniors. "They loved every minute of being on this surface. That's going to be passed down. They taught the younger ones how to be men. ... They sacrificed a lot to do it and get as good as they could.'
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'I've learned a lot over the years here and I think the program treated us well," said Vargas, a perennial All-Scholastic selection. "It takes care of us and gives us everything we need to make the finals. I love this program. I love Duxbury boys tennis. I'm going to miss it.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Duxbury boys tennis sweeps Westborough to win state championship
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