Boys tennis: State 2A Championships: Richards places 8th in 2A state singles

Matthew Richards placed eighth in the 2A state boys’ tennis singles tournament on May 27-28 at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.

By Matthew Nash • June 1, 2016 2:22 pm
Sequim High senior Matthew Richards competes at the Washington State 2A boys tennis championships in Seattle last week. Richards finished his prep career with four consecutive trips to districts and
Sequim High senior Matthew Richards competes at the Washington State 2A boys tennis championships in Seattle last week. Richards finished his prep career with four consecutive trips to districts and

The wait was worth it for Sequim senior Matthew Richards.

He placed eighth in the 2A state boys’ tennis singles tournament on May 27-28 at the Nordstrom Tennis Center in Seattle.

Richards was the only Sequim competitor at the state tournament after winning the fifth seed at districts on Oct. 30-31 in Bremerton. He opened against Ephrata’s Garner Sears with a 6-3, 6-2 loss. Sears did not place after defeating Richards.

In the consolation Richards came from behind to defeat Jose Ignacio Perez of Hudson’s Bay in a close three sets, 4-6, 7-5, 12-10.

Up next, Richards defeated Clarkston’s Don Arsenev in another close matchup 3-6, 6-4, 10-5.

For the fifth/eighth place matchup, Richards lost 6-0, 6-2 to Michael Manion of East Valley (Yakima). Ty Gentry of Tumwater took first.

This was Richards’ second time at state and fourth year at districts. As a sophomore, he made state with Brandon Payne as a doubles team but went 0-2 in match-ups.

Last year, he lost in the state qualifying match in the districts’ singles tournament.