Cape boys’ tennis ties for second at conference tournament
The Cape boys’ tennis team tied for second place with Indian River (eight points) behind winner Caesar Rodney (25 points) in the Henlopen Conference tournament May 11 at Cape High. Sussex Academy took fourth place with five points.
Cape’s Nate Hoang fell to CR’s Marc Clemente 6-0, 6-1 to place second. He defeated Smyrna’s Khang Nguyen in the semis 6-4, 6-2.
Cape’s second-doubles team of Trent Kauffman and Krish Prattipati defeated Smyrna’s Kevin Christensen and Jack Riley 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semis and placed second after falling to champions Caesar Rodney’s Tharaneetharan Shiva and Sage Sawhney 6-1, 6-2 in the finals.
Cape’s Brody Trewartha and Sully Naden took third place with a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Indian River’s Alan Phomsouvanh and Kyle Bennetch at second doubles.
“I was pleased that Hoang and Kauffman/Pratipatti advanced to their respective finals,” said Cape coach Mike Roy. “Both avenged tough regular-season losses to good Smyrna players to get there, and I'm proud of the way they fought. The entire team played well, and while we were grateful to finish second in the conference, every guy on the team realizes there is a lot of work to do this off-season to raise their level of play. These guys are hungry to win, and I expect us to return next season better than ever.”
Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs.
