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All 7 Tennis Cats Punch Tickets to Districts; Revere Match Rained Out

By Joe Ginley '12 , 05/13/19, 4:15PM EDT

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McNally (pictured) and Vesikallio won the Sectional Doubles Tourney

The Sectional Tournament could not have gone any better for the Wildcats. 

All seven Wildcats clinched a berth to the District Tournament, and the Tennis Cats won both the singles and doubles brackets.

The journey becomes more difficult this week, as the Wildcats will compete at the District Tournament on Thursday and Saturday at Springside Racquet & Fitness Club in Akron for the right to compete at States. 

Nate Day fought his way to the singles title bout on Saturday with a win over his fellow Wildcat, Drew Barclay. Day notched a 6-0 win in set one before Barclay tested him fiercely in set two. Day still managed to squeak by with a 6-4 win, sending him to the championship.

Arjun Brahmbhatt rode to the finals via an easier route. The junior conquered a Westlake foe, 6-1, 6-2 to catapult into the final match. A savvy Brahmbhatt faced Day for the title and for bragging rights. Brahmbhatt lost the first set, 6-0, before rebounding with an excellent 6-0 win to force a third tiebreaking set. In the third, Brahmbhatt eked by Day, 7-6, in a thrilling contest. 

Wildcats faced Wildcats in the doubles bracket final, too.

Kai Vesikallio and Jack McNally rolled into the finals with a great semifinal win as the No. 1 seed. The freshman-senior duo used a smart approach to corral a 6-1, 6-2 win over a talented Westlake pair.

Kenny Li and Thomas Deucher bounced into the finals with a solid win as the No. 2 seed. The sophomore-junior combo captured a 6-1, 6-4 conquest to face off with the other Saint Ignatius coupling.

In a hard-fought battle, Vesikallio and McNally emerged victorious. The talented pairing claimed a 6-1, 6-2, reigning as the Sectional champs.

The seedings for Districts were released on Monday. The Wildcats have many of the top seeds.

In singles, Brahmbhatt is the No. 1 seed. The junior will face Solon's Aaron Lee, the fourth qualifier from the Solon District. Day earned the No. 2 seed in the bracket. The sophomore will do battle with Spencer Krantz of University School, the third qualifier out of Solon. Barclay will have a steep obstacle in the opening round, matching up with Roosevelt's Grant Jones, the Sectional titlist from the Medina bracket. 

In doubles, McNally and Vesikallio draw the No. 1 seed. The combo face off against Grant Mountain and Max McNeal of Kenston, the fourth qualifier from the Solon bracket. Li and Deucher will meet Anthony Payiavlas and Alex Payiavlas of Warren G. Harding in the opening round. 

Last season, the Wildcats sent two duos to States. This year, the Tennis Cats will look to do even better.

Revere match rained out

Monday's dual match with Revere has been rained out. The contest, originally scheduled to be played at Magnificat High School, may or may not be rescheduled.