Sycamore doubles duo wins state championship

COLUMBUS – Though Sycamore High School’s boys tennis team seemingly makes perennial trips to the Ohio state tennis tournament, coach Mike Teets never had a state champion until May 31.

When Sycamore junior Nakul Narendran and senior Mustafa Ahmad defeated Kevin and Ryan Brown of Toledo St. John’s Jesuit 6-3, 6-3, Teets and the Aviators had the elusive hardware.

In beating Toledo St. John’s Jesuit, Narendran/Ahmad also exacted revenge on the duo that eliminated teammates Alex Wittenbaum and Noah Stern in the first round.

“There were four, five or six teams that we were very impressed with,” Teets said. “There were a lot of teams that could’ve won it.”

The division I champions also beat another tandem from Toledo St. John’s Jesuit in the first round before beating pairs from Copley and New Albany.

Narendran had been Sycamore’s No. 2 singles player during the regular season, with Ahmad focusing mainly on doubles. As a senior, Ahmad now leaves on a personal high and his name permanently in the Ohio high school record books.

“It’s really cool,” Teets said. “He’s worked hard and I couldn’t be more happy for him.”

The Aves didn’t have much time to celebrate at Ohio State as they went directly to the state team tournament the next day.