Downingtown West nets win against Shanahan on Senior Day
Downingtown >> Winning six matches in straight sets, host Downingtown West defeated Bishop Shanahan, 6-1, Wednesday.
It was Senior Day for the host Whippets, who got wins from senior Shrey Dhingra at first singles and the senior duo of Rohit Vipperla and Curt Elvanian at first doubles.
Shrey, a second-year captain, earned a 7-5, 6-2 victory Wednesday. Dhingra has had a solid four-year tennis career at Downingtown West – last spring, he had a good season at second singles, and as a freshman, his play at fourth doubles helped the Whippets compile a 15-2 record.
Vipperla and Elvanian posted a 6-0, 6-0 win Wednesday.
D-West coach Justin DePietropaolo said, “Rohit and Curt are consistent, hunt at the net well, and know where to place the ball. Curt brings a lot of grit to the team – he grinds out points. Rohit has the best placement on the team – he knows exactly where to put the ball. He’s one of our smartest players.”
The Whippets (3-3) also have a flock of promising underclassmen, such as freshman Leo Shi, who won at second singles, 6-0, 6-1 Wednesday.
“Leo has a big forehand, and good footwork,” said DePietropaolo.
At third singles, D-West sophomore Jack Sheldon prevailed, 6-0, 6-1.
“Jack has a lot of tools in his toolbox,” said DePietropaolo. “He’s a jack of all trades.”
At second doubles, the D-West junior duo of Rachit Bajpai and Aditya Kadiyala won 6-0, 6-2.
The Whippets, who posted a 15-2 record three years ago, had their season cut short in 2020 by the COVID pandemic, then posted a 9-8 record last spring.
“We’re building our program back, after the COVID year,” said DePietropaolo. “We have some good young players, and we’re getting a lot of interest in our middle school program this spring – we’ve had a lot of sign-ups to date.”
At third doubles, the Whippet pair of senior Shoubhit Babu and junior Ronish Padhy won, 6-2, 6-2.
“Shoubit is the human highlight reel, he smacks winners left and right,” said DePietropaolo to the crowd that gathered for the Senior Day celebration following the Whippets’ win Wednesday.
At fourth doubles, the Bishop Shanahan senior duo of Laser Frederick and Michael Thais earned a 6-4, 6-2 victory, coming back from a 4-0 deficit in the first set. The Eagles’ senior duo now have a 3-0 record.
“Laser and Michael play extremely well as a team,” said Bishop Shanahan coach Michael Owens. “They don’t get down on themselves, even when they fall behind, they stay positive, and they’ve come back from deficits a number of times.”
The Shanahan coach also praised the play of senior Sean Leslie at first singles.
“Sean played a very good match today against [Dhingra],” said Owens. “He played really, really well.”
Owens noted the Shanahan squad had 17 new players come out for the team this spring, and there are currently 28 players on the Eagles’ roster.
“We have a lot of [promising] juniors playing doubles,” noted Owens.
DePietropaolo said, “Shanahan’s team has a bunch of good athletes. They get a lot of balls back [in play].”
The D-West coach also praised Whippet seniors Nathan Riescha and Arnav Dhingra at the post-game senior celebration. Dhingra, who is Shrey Dhingra’s twin brother, earned some big wins last spring at first doubles for the Whippets, but couldn’t play this spring due to a skiing accident. Riescha is in his fourth year on the D-West squad.
“Nathan has progressed greatly through the years,” said DePietropaolo. “He’s very dedicated.”
Downingtown West 6, Bishop Shanahan 1
Singles: Shrey Dhingra (DW) def. Sean Leslie (BS), 7-5, 6-2; Leo Shi (DW) def. Jack Ringenbach (BS), 6-0, 6-1; Jack Sheldon (DW) def. Tommy Duncheskie (BS), 6-0, 6-1. Doubles: Rohit Vipperla and Curt Elvanian (DW) def. Ryan Gilbert and Tyler Metz (BS), 6-0, 6-0; Rachit Bajpai and Aditya Kadiyala (DW) def. Conal Bonass and Marty Steinetz (BS), 6-0, 6-2; Shoubhit Babu and Ronish Padhy (DW) def. Kevin McConologue and Jonathan Sprows (BS), 6-2, 6-2; Laser Frederick and Michael Thais (BS) def. Akshit Arunachalam and Dylan Harlow, 6-4, 6-2 (DW).
