Centennial repeats as champions at the Texas State Tennis Championship

Centennial High School's tennis team successfully defended its title as the 5A state champion. The team faced Abilene Wylie in the championship match at Baylor University's Hurd Tennis Center, securing a decisive 10-2 victory. This win followed a semifinal triumph over Austin Liberal Arts and Science Academy, where Centennial dominated with a 10-0 score.

The Titans maintained their No. 1 ranking throughout the season, finishing with an impressive record of 20-2. Their only defeats were against teams from the higher 6A division. In the playoffs, Centennial displayed consistent superiority by winning seven matches with a cumulative score of 70-11.

Coach Douglas Fair praised his players' dedication and resilience: "We have a lot of talent, but we also have tough kids," he stated. He highlighted their rigorous summer training and determination as key factors in their success.

Centennial's most challenging playoff encounters were against Frisco ISD rivals Wakeland and Independence, ranked second and third respectively in Texas behind Centennial. Fair noted that competing within Frisco ISD prepared them well for high-pressure playoff situations: "Those feel like state matches," he remarked.

This year marked Centennial's third consecutive appearance in the state finals after losing in 2022. Since then, they have shown remarkable dominance by winning four tournament matches with a combined score of 41-5. Coach Fair attributed this success to his players' commitment: "Once you get a taste of winning, you just want more of it."

The championship roster includes standout seniors Rayaan Altaf, Akriti Bhati, Shriyansh Chavan, and Noa Kosman; juniors Andres Cruz-Rivera, Sahasra Dodda, Akshay Kommineni, Medha Kota, Aarohan Sharma, Isabella Stolba, Chetana Thanika; sophomores Trudi Kosman, Ishita Ratnakaram; freshmen Viraj Gate; along with sophomores Raj Sheth and Rohan Sheth.