The goal of Freedom High School's boys tennis team this season was to win districts, and coach Jeff Young told his team that anything else would be gravy.

So, the Patriots did not take it too hard when they were knocked out of the first round of the PIAA State Team Tennis Tournament by Council Rock North last week, 3-1, at Winning Touch in Allentown.

"It's been so cool, the atmosphere leading up to this," said doubles player Jack Fried. "The articles in the newspapers, our picture to the PIAA, seeing our name on the bracket, all the small things. Saying we got here and were champs meant a lot to us."

Andrew Sinai won his match at number one singles, and Aidan Bodeo-Lomicky did not finish his match at number two singles because Freedom had already lost. Playing at number three singles was Ross Sonnenblick. Doubles teams were Fried and Ronak Desai, and Jon Fiorentino and Nijot Singh.

"It was the best year we could have imagined," Fried said. "The energy, the new players and everyone making them feel comfortable. The feeling is absolutely spectacular. Seeing everyone step up and getting those wins without Andrew is what clinched second seed in the [district] tournament for us. I'm so proud of everyone doing what we needed to do to get here."

get here."

Also last week, the semifinals and finals of the East Penn Conference Tennis Tournament, which had been continued from late last month, came to a conclusion on Wednesday at Parkland High School.

Tournament champions and gold medalists were Sinai at number one singles, Bodeo-Lomicky at number two singles, and Sonnenblick at number three singles, providing a singles sweep for the Freedom Patriots.

Winnng silver medals were Bethlehem Catholic's Luke Mesko and John Corley at number two doubles, and Matt Connors and Jon Fiorentino at number three doubles.

Freedom and Parkland tied as tournament champions, and Sinai was named EPC Most Valuable Player.