19 hours ago
Duxbury boys' tennis avenges 2024 finals loss to Westborough in capturing Division 2 state title
The seventh-seeded Rangers (15-6) did all they could, but ran into a powerhouse squad that left no doubt.
'We went down last year; we went down hard,' said Duxbury senior Tim Vargas. 'The comeback, and especially to win against Westborough, is really special.'
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The Dragons and Rangers have now met in the tournament each of the last four years, including three straight state finals. Duxbury won 3-2 in 2023, and Westborough did the same in 2024.
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Westborough coach Len O'Neil called it a 'good, healthy, competitive rivalry.'
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The rubber match — pitting a Duxbury lineup with four seniors against a Westborough lineup with one senior and three freshmen — featured high-level tennis throughout, but wasn't as tight.
'Down the line, they all had some tremendous points, but they weren't able to string those together,' O'Neil said of his team. 'That's going to come with experience, age, wisdom, and time.'
Bennett Stout, who will play at St. Lawrence, was a singles winner for Duxbury.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Vargas, who will play at Colgate next year, cruised 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles. St. Lawrence-bound senior Bennett Stout and senior scrapper Taylor Bettencourt both won 6-1, 6-0 to complete a dominant singles display.
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Senior Peter Burnham and sophomore Willy Pierce ground out a 7-5, 4-6, 10-7 win over over freshman Subash Pallothu and junior Jordan Hlawek at first doubles, and junior Nick Gallagher and sophomore Lucas Pratt did the same at second doubles, 6-4, 6-3.
Duxbury's Timothy Vargas cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
The Dragons will almost certainly be in the mix for years to come, but it's the end of an era for one of the best senior classes in program history.
'They gave an example of wanting to be on the tennis court for hours,' said Duxbury coach John Bunar. 'They loved every minute of being on this surface. That's going to be passed down. They taught the younger guys how to be men.'
Duxbury's William Pierce (left) and Peter Burnham compete in a Division 2 final doubles match at MIT.
Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff
Trevor Hass can be reached at
