Hopewell Valley boys tennis defeats Mendham to win inaugural Group 2 title

Hopewell Valley Boys Tennis Team Wins First-Ever Title in Nail-Biting Finals Match

In a thrilling finals match that had major implications for both programs, the Hopewell Valley boys tennis team secured their first-ever title by defeating Mendham 3-2 in the NJSIAA Group 2 tournament championship.

The match came down to a decisive 10-point tiebreaker between Hopewell Valley’s Danyal Rizavi and Mendham’s Arya Gorti. Rizavi, a freshman, showed incredible composure and skill as he clinched the victory for his team.

“I’m really ecstatic right now,” Rizavi said. “I cannot believe I just did it and had the opportunity to do this for my team and Hopewell Valley.”

The matchup between Rizavi and Gorti was the last to finish, with the singles matches going in favor of Mendham and the doubles matches won by Hopewell Valley. Despite falling behind 2-0 early on, Hopewell Valley rallied back to tie the score after the doubles matches.

Head coach David Burchell, who has been coaching tennis for 50 years, including 20 years at Hopewell Valley, emphasized the importance of staying focused and playing smart throughout the match.

Following Rizavi’s victory, his teammates showered him with water to celebrate their historic win.

“I’m so grateful for my team and my coach,” Rizavi said. “I love Coach Burchell. I cannot believe what’s going on right now.”

The win marks a significant milestone for the Hopewell Valley boys tennis program and sets the stage for future success.