Downingtown East junior Michael Dickson captures 2nd consecutive District One singles title

Springfield – Minutes after watching Michael Dickson capture his second consecutive PIAA Class AAA District One singles championship, Downingtown East coach Chris Waychunas reflected on the latest title won by the junior Cougar.

“It’s such a joy to watch [Dickson] play,” said Waychunas. “He’s so dedicated and purposeful in everything he does. He so mature and so fair – at this [high] level of tennis, there’s a lot of gamesmanship, but Michael doesn’t do [gamesmanship] – he’s got a lot of character and he’s a class act. He has a great support system – [particularly] his parents, and his private coaches.”
Dickson defeated Lower Merion’s Matt Chen in the finals, 6-3, 6-2, Saturday at the Healthplex. Chen won the Central League singles title earlier this season.
Dickson, who finished second in the PIAA Class AAA state singles tournament as a sophomore, said, “I’m glad I was able to come through [today]. Matt’s a very solid player, and we play USTA [tennis] together. I played solidly today, didn’t let Matt get back into the match. If I would have, he is more than capable [of coming back to win]. My serve was pretty good today (he only double-faulted once).”
Earlier this season, Dickson defeated Chen, 6-0, 6-2.
Chen said, “Michael played a great match, it was a great experience to be here [in the district singles final]. My backhand was solid [today] and I was serving a good percentage, but I had second chances with my forehand to put him away, and I didn’t.”
Lower Merion coach Dave O’Connell said, “Matt played hard, competed well [in the district final], but Michael is a great player, and every time there was a short ball, Michael took advantage. You have to keep the ball deep on Mike.”
Dickson had defeated Xandy Hammitt of Strath Haven, 6-3, 6-3 in the district singles semfinals to advance to the finals. Chen had defeated Andrew Tran of Wissahickon in the semifinals, 2-6, 6-1, 7-5. In the third-place match, held Saturday at the Healthplex, Hammitt defeated Tran, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. The top four finishers at district singles – Dickson, Chen, Hammitt and Tran – all advance to the PIAA Class AAA state singles tournament.
In the PIAA Class AAA District One doubles tournament Saturday at the Healthplex, the fifth-place match for the wild card spot (the wild card can only advance to States if one of the top four teams at Districts drops out) was an all-Conestoga affair, with Max Howarth and Alex Moon defeating Kai Czybryt-Ogino and Cahlin Pragada, 6-4, 6-2.