ODA Boys Tennis Team Captures State Title!

Andrew Chiritescu '21 (alternate), Quinn Isaac '21, Connor Krug '21, Jake Krug '21, Collin O'Callaghan '19 (alternate), Josh Samuel '18, and Jakub Svoboda '22 won the FHSAA Boys Class 1A Team title. While many individual athletes have represented ODA and earned state titles, the boys' tennis team championship win is the Thunder's first team state championship! In addition, Jake and Connor Krug advanced to the Championship round in doubles play, earning the Class 1A Boys Doubles runner-up.

The boys' team swept their first opponent Miami Country Day, 5-0, then took down Tampa Preparatory School 4-0 to earn the State Championship title. The members of the team spent many hours a day preparing for tennis competitions and most competed in national and international tournaments throughout the school year. Coaches Kieran Killigrew and Paul von Saman are very proud. "All the hard work and effort the kids put in to actually accomplish this is just unbelievable," said Coach Killigrew.

Senior Josh Samuel will continue his tennis career while attending the University of Connecticut. "From the beginning of the season, I knew this was our best chance. When Jakub and Quinn came out to join the team, that made us a legitimate contender...My dad told me to give it everything I had in me, because this was my last opportunity to win the State Championship...It was all such an awesome experience, and I'm so happy it turned out the way it did." The remaining members of the team are underclassmen with hopes of returning to the state finals again next year.

The girls' team finished as the district runners-up and lost in the regional semi-finals to Community School of Naples. Doubles partners Ava Krug '24 and Sydney Sforzo '20 advanced to the State Tournament after defeating their competitors at the District Tournament and finishing as District Champions. They took their momentum into the state tournament and emerged as the Class 1A Doubles State Runners Up!

Congratulations to all our tennis players and coaches! We are extremely proud of you, your accomplishments and the class with which you represented our school community.

Media Coverage: