Downingtown East tennis squad aces crosstown rival D-West
Uwchlan >> Winning all seven of its matches in straight sets, Downingtown East defeated crosstown rival Downingtown East, 7-0, Friday.
The Cougars defeated a solid Whippets squad that had beaten Bishop Shanahan by a 6-1 count just two days earlier. The only two losses Downingtown East (4-2) has suffered this spring is a 5-2 defeat to defending PIAA 3A state champion Lower Merion and a narrow 4-3 loss to perennial power Unionville.
“Our team has a relaxed urgency to do well,” noted D-East coach Chris Waychunas, whose Cougar squad was undefeated in Ches-Mont League play last year. “And we have a lot of depth – I have four players on JV who could step right in onto varsity if they had to.”
Downingtown West coach Justin DePietropaolo said, “Downingtown East is a tough team – they have tournament players that play all year round – not just practice, but play, all year round. That makes a difference.”
Leading the way for the Cougars Friday was freshman Shrihan Madam at first singles, who earned a 6-1, 6-1 win. Madam has a 5-1 record, with his only loss coming against Lower Merion.
“Srihan is an experienced, well-rounded player,” noted Waychunas.
“It’s really cool to be a part of this [D-East vs. D-West] rivalry,” said Madam.
At second singles, D-East junior Raj Srivastava posted a 6-2, 6-3 victory to boost his record to 4-2.
“Raj is a mainstay of our program,” said Waychunas. “He always gives 100 percent effort, and his return of serve is great.”
At third singles, D-East’s colorful junior Devin McBride won a 6-3, 6-0 decision. McBride’s record is now 5-1, with only a loss to Lower Merion.
“Devin is the energy of our team – he’s our engine,” said Waychunas. “He never gives up.”
McBride, a cyber student who has never lost a tennis match to the Whippets, noted the bonds of the East-West rivalry: “I’m friends with a bunch of [the Whippets].”
On Friday, both teams had to battle a strong, chilly 20 MPH crosswind from the west.
Madam said, “I think the key to playing in this wind is good footwork – you step into the wind and try to get the ball on the rise, so it doesn’t move [unexpectedly] on you.”
Srivastava said, “When it’s windy, I try to hit the ball with high topspin. … It seems like the weather is funny every time we play West – last year when we played them, it was cold and windy.”
“I try to use the wind to my advantage,” said McBride.
The closest match of the day came at first doubles, where D-East juniors Neet Srivastava and Rohun Gargya won, 7-5, 6-2. At second doubles, freshman Ashwin Natarajan and senior Adi Shankar prevailed, 6-2, 6-1; at third doubles, junior Sachiel Varada and senior Madhav Raghavendra won, 6-4, 6-4; and at fourth doubles, sophomore Brandon Grabys and senior Bala Godavarthi earned a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Waychunas, who has been using different combinations of players at the doubles spots this spring, said, “Our doubles teams are starting to click. We’re trying to find the right [doubles] combinations.”
For Downingtown West (3-4), DePietropaolo stressed the need for the Whippets to focus on their next match.
“We need to act like goldfish – forget this match and look ahead, we’ve got four matches next week,” said DePietropaolo.
Next week, the Whippets travel to Coatesville for a match, then host Owen J. Roberts, Garnet Valley and West Chester Rustin.
NOTES: During Friday’s match, on the sidelines, a get-well card was circulated and signed by the D-East players for senior Cougar captain Pranay Sivaraju, who injured his foot recently and could be out for the season.
Downingtown East 7, Downingtown West 0
Singles: Shrihan Madam (DE) def. Shrey Dhingra (DW), 6-1, 6-1; Raj Srivastava (DE) def. Leo Shi (DW), 6-2, 6-3; Devin McBride (DE) def. Jack Sheldon (DW), 6-3, 6-0.
Doubles: Neet Srivastava and Rohun Gargya (DE) def. Rohit Vipperla and Curt Elvanian (DW), 7-5, 6-2; Ashwin Natarajan and Adi Shankar (DE) def. Rachit Bajpai and Aditya Kadiyala (DW), 6-2, 6-1; Sachiel Varada and Madhav Raghavendra (DE) def. Shoubhit Babu and Ronish Padhy (DW), 6-4, 6-4; Brandon Grabys and senior Bala Godavarthi (DE) def. Akshit Arunachalam and Ayush Kakrkare (DW), 6-0, 6-0.
