Hawks Achieve Three-Peat in TAPPS Tennis
Only a few years after launching its varsity athletic program, Alcuin School could already be building a dynasty in TAPPS boys tennis.
The Hawks won their third consecutive 2A state title on Friday in Waco with the four-man roster of Felix Ruda, Max Bassichis, Luis Cuenca-Martinez, and Akshay Karthik. The team is coached by Kym Malone.
Ruda was the singles runner-up at the state tournament, while Bassichis and Cuenca-Martinez — the lone newcomer on this year’s contingent of state qualifiers — teamed up to finish third in doubles.
Ruda won his first three matches in dominating fashion before falling in straight sets to Hai Vo of Keller Harvest in the championship match. Meanwhile, Bassichis and Cuenca-Martinez reached the semifinals before suffering a narrow defeat against the Lubbock All Saints tandem of Grady Geihsler and Blake Matzner.
However, the Hawks used their depth, including a first-round win for Karthik in singles, to outlast All Saints in the team standings.
It marks the second state title for the Alcuin athletic department since the start of the school year and the fourth overall in the past three years.
The Hawks won their first TAPPS 2A title after moving up from the 1A classification. There are now 29 players in the program, six of which advanced to the state tournament.
“The way they compete and the work they put in to keep their craft really sharp is impressive,” Malone said. “They’re all friends and have great chemistry, but when it’s time to play, they’re locked in and ready for it.”
Bassichis and Karthik have been on all three championship tennis teams at Alcuin. Bassichis and Cuenca-Martinez are also members of the Alcuin soccer team that claimed a TAPPS crown in the fall.
“I came into high school when we had never won a state title, and now here we are,” said Bassichis, a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball. “The first time we went for state, we didn’t know what to expect and found it very competitive. This year, knew what we needed to do.”
Malone said the season is especially tough for multi-sport players on the tennis team. Two weeks after basketball season ends, the tennis season begins and players have barely enough time to pick up a racquet for practice.
“It’s hard for them to get into a rhythm in time for the district tournament, but we make it work every year,” Malone said.
Karthik said he hopes the success of the program will generate even more student interest in tennis at Alcuin.
“We lost a lot of seniors last year, but we really came together and performed at the highest level when it mattered most,” Karthik said. “It definitely feels good and I hope it provides inspiration for students coming after us.”
