Latest news with #BennettStout
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'They loved every minute': Led by singles star, Duxbury boys tennis claims D-2 state title
CAMBRIDGE — They long awaited Part 3 of the trilogy. Same court. Same opponent. Same day every year. On Sunday, Duxbury High boys tennis team collided with Westborough in the Division 2 state championship on the DuPont Courts at MIT on Sunday for the third consecutive season. Advertisement In 2023, Duxbury won a competitive back-and-forth match. In 2024, Westborough did the same. This year, the Duxbury seniors brought their best. Led by Tim Vargas and Bennett Stout, two singles stars bound for the college ranks next spring, the fourth-seeded Dragons swept seventh-seeded Westborough to capture the sixth state championship in program history. 'They played their best tennis on the biggest stage," head coach John Bunar said. Vargas, who will continue his career at Colgate University in New York next year, won his first singles match decisively (6-0, 6-0). Stout (second singles) and senior Taylor Bettencourt (third singles) also won each of their matchups -- 6-1, 6-0. Advertisement The doubles duos of sophomore Willie Pierce and senior Peter Burnham (first; 7-5, 4-6, 10-7) and junior Nick Gallagher and sophomore Lucas Pratt (seconds; 6-4, 6-3) also took their matches to seal the championship win. 'We went down hard (last year)," said Vargas. "To come back and win, especially against Westborough, it's very special.' 'The sweep is the best way to win, seeing everyone do their thing and take care of business," Bettencourt said. More: 'We rose to the occasion': Norwell boys lacrosse rallies past Cohasset to win state title Stout won a 15-volley final point to clinch his individual match -- Duxbury's third overall team point of the day -- and the state championship officially. Advertisement As a junior last year, Stout made the Patriot Ledger All-Scholastic team alongside then-senior Tucker Catalano in doubles, going 12-0 in the run to the Division 2 final. Stout, who will play at St. Lawrence University in college, bumped up to second singles this season following his former partner's graduation. 'He's got an all-purpose game and he worked on it more," Bunar said of Stout. "I think (the new spot) suits him well. He made the jump all the way to (No.) 2 and he won at 2.' Duxbury boys tennis players and coaches celebrate winning the Division 2 state championship vs. Westborough at MIT on Sunday, June 15, 2025. Prior to when this group of seniors were on the team that it all in 2023, the Dragons' last previous state championship came in 2013. Before that, Duxbury won in 1990, 1984 and 1981. Advertisement Duxbury won 13 straight matches to open the season, and went on a playoff run that featured triumphs No. 29 Billerica Memorial, No. 13 Marblehead, No. 5 Wayland, No. 1 Hopkinton and No. 7 Westborough en route to the title win. 'I'm just so grateful for (this program) and the fact we play tennis, and are successful, and we had the opportunity to come here (to the state championship at MIT) frequently and play on the highest stage," Bettencourt said. "It's so much fun.' Duxbury graduates an eight-man senior class: Vargas, Bettencourt, Stout, Burnham, Jared Campbell, William Marani, Christopher McWilliams and Noah Williamson. 'They gave an example of wanting to be on the tennis court for hours," Bunar said of the seniors. "They loved every minute of being on this surface. That's going to be passed down. They taught the younger ones how to be men. ... They sacrificed a lot to do it and get as good as they could.' Advertisement 'I've learned a lot over the years here and I think the program treated us well," said Vargas, a perennial All-Scholastic selection. "It takes care of us and gives us everything we need to make the finals. I love this program. I love Duxbury boys tennis. I'm going to miss it. This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Duxbury boys tennis sweeps Westborough to win state championship
Boston Globe
5 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Duxbury boys' tennis avenges 2024 finals loss to Westborough in capturing Division 2 state title
The seventh-seeded Rangers (15-6) did all they could, but ran into a powerhouse squad that left no doubt. 'We went down last year; we went down hard,' said Duxbury senior Tim Vargas. 'The comeback, and especially to win against Westborough, is really special.' Related : The Dragons and Rangers have now met in the tournament each of the last four years, including three straight state finals. Duxbury won 3-2 in 2023, and Westborough did the same in 2024. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up Westborough coach Len O'Neil called it a 'good, healthy, competitive rivalry.' Advertisement The rubber match — pitting a Duxbury lineup with four seniors against a Westborough lineup with one senior and three freshmen — featured high-level tennis throughout, but wasn't as tight. 'Down the line, they all had some tremendous points, but they weren't able to string those together,' O'Neil said of his team. 'That's going to come with experience, age, wisdom, and time.' Bennett Stout, who will play at St. Lawrence, was a singles winner for Duxbury. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Vargas, who will play at Colgate next year, cruised 6-0, 6-0, at No. 1 singles. St. Lawrence-bound senior Bennett Stout and senior scrapper Taylor Bettencourt both won 6-1, 6-0 to complete a dominant singles display. Advertisement Senior Peter Burnham and sophomore Willy Pierce ground out a 7-5, 4-6, 10-7 win over over freshman Subash Pallothu and junior Jordan Hlawek at first doubles, and junior Nick Gallagher and sophomore Lucas Pratt did the same at second doubles, 6-4, 6-3. Duxbury's Timothy Vargas cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 win at first singles. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff The Dragons will almost certainly be in the mix for years to come, but it's the end of an era for one of the best senior classes in program history. 'They gave an example of wanting to be on the tennis court for hours,' said Duxbury coach John Bunar. 'They loved every minute of being on this surface. That's going to be passed down. They taught the younger guys how to be men.' Duxbury's William Pierce (left) and Peter Burnham compete in a Division 2 final doubles match at MIT. Danielle Parhizkaran/Globe Staff Trevor Hass can be reached at
