With the recent additions of five freshman, one sophomore, and a junior, the Jesuit tennis team has displayed its dominance through multiple notable wins this 2023 fall season. Only having lost two matches so far with three matches remaining, Jesuit hopes to maintain their consistency and success on the court through the finish of the Fall season. This article will not only cover the on-court successes throughout the season but will also cover the personal experiences from direct members of the team.
Match Against Berkner H.S. – August 15
Kicking off the first match of the season with a dominant 6-0 performance, Jesuit established their start to a successful season. Following this match, senior captain Alonso Carrillo reflected on his experiences as a High School tennis player:
“All four years of my High School career I have played on the tennis team. In my final year as a Ranger, I have begun to understand the true values and lessons that come with the experiences of tennis. I have learned about hard work and dedication, but also how to be a “Men for Others.” I learned about sportsmanship, teamwork and effective time management, all of which subconsciously corresponded with my academic success. The nature of Jesuit tennis isn’t just about winning, rather it is about personal growth and the embracement of important values.”
– Senior and Caption Alonso Carrillo
Notable Singles Wins
Luke Nettune (6-1, 6-0)
Aadhithya Anbuchezhiyan (6-2, 6-2)
William Wayne (6-1, 6-1)
Notable Doubles Wins:
Patricio Carrillo & Henry Bryarly (8-1)
William Wayne & Luke Nettune (8-2)
Match Against Southlake Carroll H.S. – August 28
Jesuit was handed their first loss of the fall season by the Southlake Carroll Dragons. Being only the second match of the season, this result discouraged some players. But I offered a positive outlook with the following:
“They just simply outplayed us. It definitely stings, but if anything, it’ll motivate us to work harder and improve for the remainder of the season.”
Match Against Richardson H.S. – August 29
The Jesuit Rangers displayed their dominance on the court over Richardson H.S. winning 18-3. “This blowout means a lot to the team,” said sophomore Carson Voegtle. This Jesuit win increased the team’s confidence as only one day prior, the Rangers had not won a single match against Southlake Carroll.
“It was a great experience and established a strong foundation which I believed influenced the rest of the season.”
– Luke Nettune
Notable singles performances
Henry Bryarly (8-7 (11-9))
Ben Woodard (8-5)
William Wayne (8-2)
Notable doubles performances
Mathis Valenta & Connor Cole (6-3, 6-0)
Alonso Carrillo & Henry Bryarly (7-5, 5-7, 10-8)
Luke Nettune & Carson Voegtle (4-6, 6-3, 10-5)
Match Against J.J. Pearce H.S. – September 5
Jesuit has had no issue in handling JJ Pearce the last 6 times they encountered one another. New students captured some of their first wins, like transfer student William Burns defeating his opponent (4-1, 4-3 (10-2)).
Singles wins included Connor Cole (4-0, 4-1), Dillon Blanton (4-1, 4-0), William Wayne  (4-1, 4-0), Ben Woodard (4-2, 4-2), Luke Nettune (4-0, 4-0), Mark Scucchi (6-3), Jack Hardy (6-5 (8-6)), and Dashel Glasgow (4-0, 4-1).
Jesuit furthered their dominance in doubles, with line #1 team Connor Cole & Dillon Blanton winning (8-2), William Wayne & Ben Woodard (8-4), and freshmen Jack Hardy and Mark Scucchi (8-5).
Match Against Nimitz H.S. – September 12
The Jesuit Dallas Rangers dominated Nimitz, securing a 9-0 victory over the Vikings at Nimitz H.S.
Jesuit’s top-flight pairing of sophomores Carson Voegtle and William Wayne led a sweep of doubles with an 8-1 victory, followed by an 8-0 sweep by freshman Mark Scucchi and senior Alonso Carrillo and an 8-1 decision in favor of freshmen Branch Dallman and Dashel Glasgow.
The Rangers further showcased their dominance in singles as William Wayne took control with a 4-1, 4-0 win at No. 1 singles. Carson Voegtle kept the streak going with a 4-0, 4-2 win, followed by wins from Alonso Carrillo (4-0, 4-1), Mark Scucchi (4-0, 4-1), Dashel Glasgow (4-0, 4-0) and Branch Dallman (4-0, 4-0).
Match Against Lake Highlands H.S. – September 19
Due to inclement weather, Jesuit’s substantial lead was cut short and rescheduled to Wednesday, October 3rd when single matches will be replayed.
However, Jesuit was able to quickly triumph in doubles. Wins included: Connor Cole & Mathis Valenta (6-1, 6-1), Dillon Blanton & William Wayne, and Brookes Spurgin & Ben Woodard (6-3, 3-6, (10-3)).
Match Against Frisco Wakeland H.S. – September 22
One of the only two home games in the season, the Rangers nearly pulled off the win, narrowly losing to the Wakeland Wolverines in a co-ed match with Ursuline.
Jesuit’s top-seeded doubles pairing, sophomore Mathis Valenta and junior Connor Cole plowed through their first match, winning doubles 6-2, 6-1. Playing at line 2 doubles, junior Dillon Blanton and sophomore William Wayne carefully handled their match winning 6-3, 7-5, followed by a win from Luke Nettune and Ben Woodard (8-2). Sophomore Carson Voegtle and freshman Mark Scucchi couldn’t manage the win, losing 3-6, 1-6.
Jesuit further showcased their dominance with line 1 player Mathis Valenta sweeping his opponent (6-2, 6-1) followed by another strong performance (6-0, 6-1) from line 2 junior, Connor Cole, as well as an impressive victory from sophomore Luke Nettune (8-6). Following these dominant wins, line 3 junior Dillon Blanton struggled to overcome his opponent, unluckily cramping in the second set, resulting in a (6-7 (12), 0-6) loss. Similarly in sophomore William Wayne’s match, Wayne wasn’t able to pull off the win, losing 1-6, 3-6 followed by two more losses from sophomore Carson Voegtle (2-6, 2-6), and junior Ben Woodard (4-8).
Despite not achieving the result they wanted, the Rangers showcased their skill, going toe-to-toe with the best 5A Co-ed tennis team in Texas.
Upcoming Matches & Events
On Friday, September 29th, Jesuit will drive up to Coppell to battle against a traditional rival, the Coppell High School Cowboys. This match is expected to be evenly matched, suggesting it could go either way.
On the following Tuesday, October 2nd, the Rangers will take on Irving H.S. at Irving.
The following day, Wednesday, October 3rd, Jesuit will remake the delayed match against Lake Highlands. Only singles matches will be played, as doubles have already been completed.
After these matches, the fall season will come to an end, initiating the start of the off-season. The Jesuit tennis team has many exciting events planned, including a Christmas party hosted by William Wayne. However, during this “off-time,” implemented fitness will be the highlight of the off-season. In charge of the tennis team’s fitness, Assistant head coach Mallory Wainwright emphasizes the importance of agility in tennis players and how it impacts not only personal success but the success of the team, saying:
“Tennis is a physically demanding sport. Footwork is a crucial part of a tennis match, but so is stamina. Playing at a high level for a long period of time is not only physically demanding, but also mentally exhausting. Improving fitness helps all aspects of a tennis players mentality in a match.”
– Coach Wainwright
Spring Expectations
With the fall season almost behind them, the Jesuit Rangers have high expectations for the upcoming spring season. During the spring season, district championships and regional championships take place, encouraging the team to train hard in order to be diligently prepared.
“The fall season has been good so far. We have seen things that we can work on to have an even better spring season.”
– Coach Wainwright
With aspirations for an even more successful spring season, the Jesuit tennis team plans on maintaining a disciplined schedule, focusing on improving their fitness during the off-season.
Stay tuned to The Roundup for more tennis coverage!
