Methacton’s Dylan Wen tops OJR’s Nguyen for PAC singles championship
BUCKTOWN >> Three of last year’s four Pioneer Athletic Conference boys tennis singles semifinalists were back on Tuesday morning with another opportunity to win the title.
It was Methacton sophomore Dylan Wen who took advantage of the second chance with a 6-3, 6-2 finals win over Owen J. Roberts junior Talan Nguyen.
Henry Ye from Perkiomen Valley, the only semifinal newcomer, won the third-place match over Upper Merion’s Josiah Kotright-Lindsay and Methacton’s Akash Suresh finished fifth at the Owen J. Roberts courts, all in matches postponed from Saturday because of a rainy forecast.
Last year, Wen downed Kotright-Lindsay in the semifinals, but then lost to Spring-Ford’s Cameron Moore, who won his second straight championship.
“I was somewhat disappointed last year,” said Wen. ”This year, I just wanted to win it. I came in with a strong mindset. I achieved the result and I’m proud of it.”
Wen did not have easy sailing all the way as he was taken to three sets by Ye before finally putting away a 6-2, 6-7 (6), 6-1 win, and then got off to a slow start in the final.
“I was a little bit relaxed after the first set,” Wen said concerning his semifinal match. “In the second set, he started playing better and I wasn’t ready for it. I tried to be patient and make my shots and it worked.”
Nguyen won 7-6 (4), 6-2 over Kotright-Lindsay in the other semifinal.
“I tried to go to the net more today, even though that’s not my comfort zone,” said Nguyen. “I tried to play more to my pace, rather than let the opponent dictate the points.”
Nguyen took the first two games of the final and had a couple of game points in the third game that went to deuce four times. But Wen turned on the power, as he did in the third set of the semifinals, and pulled out that game and the next three to take control of the set.
“It’s just hard with Dylan,” said Nguyen. “He adapts really well. He’s so good. He just hits the ball so fast. I definitely had to play almost without error today. He played really well.”
“I thought I relied a lot on my forehand,” said Wen. “I hit my rally shots and approach shots and finish balls.”
Nguyen finished fourth last year after losing to Moore and Kotright-Lindsay, so Tuesday’s outcome was definitely a step up.
“I’m really happy about that,” he said.
Ye bounced back with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of Kotright-Lindsay in the third-place match. In the playbacks for fifth among Friday’s quarterfinal losers, Boyertown’s Brayden Burkhardt defeated PV’s Landon Raupp 4-6, 6-1, 10-4 and Suresh topped Spring-Ford’s Yash Rohera 6-0, 7-5. Then Suresh won over Burkhardt 6-4, 6-4 for fifth.
Nguyen, Ye, Kotright-Lindsay and Suresh will play in the District 1-3A tournament Friday and Saturday at Springfield YMCA along with 2A qualifier Aidan McCarel from Pope John Paul II.
Wen will not be able to participate because he has a previous commitment as the Pennsylvania Music Educators All-State accompanist for mixed choir.
“Hopefully I can go to districts in doubles,” he said. “Hopefully there will not be a conflict with the dates next year. There are strong players in the district. They challenge my game. Next year, I hope to go further in districts.”
Last year, the PAC had five 3A qualifiers and all lost in the first round except for Nguyen.
“I’ll do my best,” he said. “Those guys are just on another level. Maybe I can make it to states.”
PAC Boys Tennis Singles Championships
Semifinals
Dylan Wen (MT) def. Henry Ye (PV), 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 6-1; Talan Nguyen (OJR) def. Josiah Kotright-Lindsay (UM), 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.
Consolation Semifinals
Brayden Burkhardt (BT) def. Landon Raupp (PV), 4-6, 6-1, 10-4; Akash Suresh (MT) def. Yash Rohera (SF), 6-0, 7-5.
Championship
Wen (MT) def. Nguyen (OJR), 6-3, 6-2.
Third Place
Ye (PV) def. Kotright-Lindsay (UM), 6-0, 6-0.
Fifth Place
Suresh (MT) def. Burkhardt (BT), 6-4, 6-4.
