The sweat was dripping, emotions were running high, and the distinctive smack of the tennis ball against a echoed throughout the courts. The Garfield Boys Tennis team had its first real test of the season, coming up against a talented and confident Newport squad that hadn’t lost in five years of 3A play. However, the Bulldogs reaffirmed their undefeated record, beating Newport five matches to four. To say this match was intense would be an understatement; this match was nothing short of epic, a clash of tennis titans.

The boys’ quest for perfection began two years ago, when ‘010 came along, and a new era of tennis domination was ushered in. Since then, the team has won two district championships, sent five players to state, and gone an undefeated 25 – 0 . The boys were not about to give that up. “It’s not just about winning anymore,” says No. 3 Wilson Platt. “It’s about the pursuit of perfection.”

This match was not just about dominance in 4A; this was personal. This summer, Garfield No. 1, Frankie Pavia, worked with Newport High’s head coach, Ron Coleman. After some pick-up hitting between the two, what was an amiable relationship quickly turned sour, as Coleman subsequently told Ira Moss, Head Coach for GHS, that any of his players could beat Pavia. “When I heard that, to be honest I was kinda incredulous,” says Pavia. “Like, if he’s about to start dissin’ on me and the Garfield team, and talking smack… he has no right.”

After that it was always about September 25, 2008. That was the date ingrained upon every single player’s mind. This was the date of the Newport match. The boys had been preparing for weeks, only to have the match rained out just five minutes after arrival and re-scheduled for the following Monday. “It certainly took away our momentum,” said Pavia. “We were so pumped for Thursday.”

However, the postponement didn’t bring all bad news. Ryan Killory, Garfield No. 2, had sprained his thumb just days before the original match date, causing panic among the team. “I was really bummed, ‘cause I had thought I had broken it, but it ended up being all good,” Killory says. “I just had to rehab it hella.”

After a bus ride filled with entertaining stories of crazy weekends, the boys were ready to go. Greeted by the Newport team, most with dyed orange hair, the boys got down to business.

The number three, five, and six matches finished quickly, with Wilson Platt winning in straight sets, 6 – 2, 6 – 2. Peter Killory was also victorious by the same margin, though he had to endure a number of bad line calls, which led to line policing. No. 6 Joseph Lachman was not so lucky, losing his match. Garfield: 2, Newport: 1.

The number four and two matches finished soon after. Garfield number four, Neil Eddington fell 6 – 4, 6 – 2. Ryan Killory, closed out a hotly contested match, 7 – 5, 6 – 4, after being up 5 – 1 in the second set. “I panicked in the middle of that match,” says Killory. “I knew my match was really important.” Nevertheless, it now stood Garfield: 3, Newport: 2.

After losing the first set of the number three doubles match, 6 – 3, Ben Huppe and Matt “Heartthrob” Cerf, buckled down and dominated, winning the following sets 6 – 2, 6 – 0. “That felt better than when we beat Roosevelt last year,” says Huppe. Garfield: 4, Newport: 2.

In the only match to go three sets, Pavia fell 5 – 7, 6 – 2, 6 – 3. With regular shouts of “Let’s go!” and seemingly never-ending rallies, Pavia’s match was by far the most intense. Scoring confusion also added to the drama of the match, as coaches on both teams were unsure of the actual score. “I feel like I was a huge underdog coming into that match, and he deserved to win,” says Pavia. “I did better than I thought I would do.” Garfield: 4, Newport: 3.

With five wins needed to clinch a match, the boys were counting on clutch doubles performances. Platt and Killory were able to provide that, dominating 6 – 1, 6 – 1. “It was just amazing. We stuck it to ‘em on their home court,” says Platt. “It’s crazy euphoria.” Pavia and Eddington’s doubles match fell to the wayside, ending in a pro-set, or the first to reach eight games. “We were just hitting the ball as hard as we could,” says Pavia. “We didn’t really care all that much.” The match ended 8 – 5. However it didn’t matter. Garfield had clinched the win 5 matches to 4.

Players storming the court, chest bumps abound, Eddington in Platt’s arms, the atmosphere was simply euphoric. “It was amazing, made better because some of them cried, they had hella fans, and they hadn’t lost since I was twelve,” says Eddington. As Newport players hung their head in shame, and the boys wrapped up their win with a resounding “Bulldogs!” cheer, Peter Killory could only remark, “Damn it feels good to be a gangsta.”

Perhaps absolute perfection is too much to ask of each individual person. However, through the collaboration of all the players, not just the No.1 and 2 players, the Garfield Tennis Team has achieved that elusive perfection. Congratulations boys, here’s to another season of perfection.