Statebound Vandegrift tennis players will compete May 17-18. L-R: Jai Naik, Deven Bapat, Blaine Kanak, Gabby Cusano, Nic Cusano, Synclair Larson, Anisha Apte, and coach Daniel White.

Staff Reports

Seven Vandegrift tennis players will compete in the 6A state championship tournament on this week, May 17-18 at Texas A&M University.

“The team has exceeded my expectations by advancing seven players to state,” said Daniel White, VHS head tennis coach.

More than any Region 4 high school, the Vipers qualified for the state tournament in four of the five events at the Class 6A Region 4 tournament April 18-19 at the San Antonio McFarlin Tennis Center. The results were: Gabby Cusano, 1st place girls singles, Synclair Larson and Anisha Apte, 1st place girls doubles, Jai Naik, 1st place boys singles, Deven Bapat, 2nd place boys singles, and Nic Cusano and Blaine Kanak, 2nd place boys doubles.

District 25-6A, one of the strongest districts in the state, claimed 13 of 16 Region 4 spots advancing to state, with Vandegrift leading the way with seven.

“I am very pleased with our results,” White said. “It truly has been the best-case scenario for Vandegrift. I’m excited to see if we can continue to dominate at the highest level of high school tennis.”

Gabby Cusano defended her 2017 District and Region 4 girls singles titles and advanced to state for the third consecutive year (2016 girls doubles 5A State Champion and 2017 girls singles).

Twin brother Nic Cusano makes his second doubles appearance in the state tournament this year, with playing partner Blaine Kanak. The Cusano/Kanak doubles team finished second in district and region playing two hard fought 3-set finals matches.  

Synclair Larson and Anisha Apte finished second in district but finished strong at region to claim first place.  

Boys singles was an all Viper affair in district and region with Jai Naik and Deven Bapat finishing first and second, respectively, at both tournaments.