Downingtown >> Missing several players from its starting lineup, the undefeated Downingtown East High School boys’ tennis team displayed its depth of talent in a 6-1 win against a rebuilding Bishop Shanahan squad Tuesday.
Cougar junior Shrihan Madam, the Ches-Mont National Division singles champion the past two years, was absent due to competing in an academic competition. But Nico Pascale, who played first doubles against Great Valley five days ago, moved to second singles Tuesday, and teammate Arudra Ravikanth moved from second doubles against the Patriots to third singles Tuesday, and both players won their matches in straight sets, 6-0, 6-1.
In doubles play, the Cougars (6-0) won all four matches in straight sets.
“We have a lot of depth,” said Downingtown East head coach Chris Waychunas. “One of the reasons is because a lot of the guys who are on our team play in tournaments, so they have some (competitive) playing experience, so while they might not be high on our (team) ladder, I can always move them up if I need to rely on that experience.
“I’d like to mention the guys who had to step up today – (freshman twins) Connor and Braden Tulloch at third doubles, and freshman Darsh Goel and sophomore Sam Thomas at fourth doubles. They’ve been playing well in practice, so it’s good they had a chance to play some varsity and give them some experience going forward.”
The most interesting match Tuesday was at first singles, where Shanahan sophomore Danny Gallagher won in three sets, 6-1, 3-6, 6-2. He now has a 6-0 record at first singles, and as a freshman last year, just missed qualifying for PIAA 2A singles tournament, advancing to the District 1 2A singles semifinals.
“Danny is persistent, a good listener who takes advice to heart,” said Shanahan head coach Michael Owens. “He loves tennis, loves practicing and is a year-round player. He’s been playing in USTA tournaments the past year or so.
“I think that today in the third set Danny went back to playing the way he did in the first set – he was a little more aggressive and not passive and getting into a lot of really long rallies, which he did in the second set.”
Gallagher said he thought his match against Downingtown East was his best of the young season.
“My first serves were going in more (often), and I didn’t have many double faults, I wasn’t giving away many points,” said Gallagher. “In the third set, I concentrated on making first serves, keeping the ball deep and staying consistent every point.”
Bishop Shanahan is now 2-4, having beaten Coatesville and Kennett, and losing to Downingtown West, Great Valley, Holy Ghost and Downingtown East.
“We lost 14 seniors last spring to graduation,” said Owens. “We lost all of our doubles teams. A lot of our doubles players this year are all new. Most of them are young and/or they’re very new. We had some seniors come out this spring, but they’re new to tennis, new to playing on the team. They’re progressing and they’re having fun.”
Owens also praised the play of freshman Liam O’Sullivan at second singles this season.
“Liam has been playing well, and he’s going to keep progressing, like Danny (Gallagher) did last year,” said Owens.
Against Shanahan, the Cougars swept the doubles matches in straight sets, led by Nihaas Dantuluri and Shriyan Ghati at first doubles and Sam Flickinger and Sterling Hsu at second doubles.
“Downingtown East is so consistent over the years,” said Owens. “You maybe think, ‘OK, this year they’re not going to be as good,’ but they always are, and for me as a coach, that’s amazing.”
Downingtown East will play four teams in five days next week – Coatesville on April 1, Kennett April 2, Downingtown West April 3 and powerful Lower Merion (at LM) April 5.
Bishop Shanahan has some competitive matches coming up, against Avon Grove April 1, West Chester east April 8, West Chester Henderson April 17 and West Chester Rustin April 22.
Owens also noted that this season he is happy to have some assistance on the coaching sidelines.
“The last couple of years, I’ve been the team’s only coach, but this year, I have some help, two assistant coaches in Liane Duncheskie and Matt Pawlik,” said Owens. “They’re helping, and doing a great job, especially with the JV and with our new people. We had a good turnout for the JV team this year.”
NOTES: Bishop Shanahan’s home courts have been expanded this year, from four to six. For now, the court surface is blacktop.
“In June, the court contractors are coming back to install the top acrylic layer,” said Owens. “They didn’t have time to put it down last fall because of the weather. Next year, the court (floor) will be U.S. Open blue and green – the court will be blue and the outside will be green.”
Downingtown East 6, Bishop Shanahan 1
Singles: 1. Danny Gallagher (BS) def. Vishruth Madam (DE), 6-1, 3-6, 6-2; 2. Nico Pascale (DE) def. Liam O’Sullivan (BS), 6-0, 6-1. 3. Arudra Ravikanth (DE) def. Tommy Duncheskie (BS) 6-0, 6-1.
Doubles: 1. Nihaas Dantuluri/Shriyan Ghati (DE) def. Alex Lemheney/Colin Ottesen (BS), 6-1, 6-0; 2. Sam Flickinger/Sterling Hsu (DE) def. Carter Steinetz/Jack Snyder (BS), 6-1, 6-0; 3. Connor Tulloch/Braden Tulloch (DE) def. Sanhith Vandara/Parker Wiedel (BS), 6-1, 6-0; 4. Darsh Goel/Sam Thomas (DE) def. Emil Eusemann/Nate Clelentano (BS), 6-1, 6-2.
