After a thrilling and exciting District One tournament, the Spring-Ford girls tennis team captured the District One Class AAA title in what could be described as an upset since the Rams entered the tournament as the fourth seed. 

The performance in the championship match against second-seeded Wissahickon told an entirely different story, though, as the Rams netted a 4-1 victory to claim their first-ever girls tennis district championship.

The win was made all-the-more impressive since the tournament included top-seeded Unionville, the defending district champ, and third-seeded Downingtown West, a state semifinalist a year ago. 

“We knew we hadn’t won in districts before, so we knew we had to prove ourselves as the new, young team,” girls tennis coach Todd Reagan said. 

Top singles player Mia Matriccino continued her dominant season, defeating Hannah Wang, 6-2, 6-0, to set the tone for the match. Second singles player Isabel Mejia followed her with another top effort, besting Nicole Zappin, 6-3, 6-2, to push the Rams one win away from victory. Matriccino is an undefeated 12-0 this year and Mejia is 9-3. Solid third starter Cady Krause dropped a three-set thriller, 4-6, 6-4, 1-6. 

“We got the one-two-three punch, and being able to roll out those three girls is very daunting for teams to match up with,” Reagan said. “It’s what has helped us match up with these district foes, just knowing you have three talented girls going at singles for you. We also back it up with incredible players at doubles for us as well.”

The Rams’ doubles teams of Emily Tiffan and Lucy Olsen as well as Alexis Luo and Evelyn Mejia clinched the victory with straight-set wins. Tiffan and Olsen won their match, 6-4, 6-2, over Wissahickon’s Saarchi Mehta and Lily Solomon. Luo and Mejia upended Claria Baldasano and Katie Lu.

The Rams continued their winning ways in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association quarterfinals Wednesday, upending District 12 champion Cardinal O’Hara on Oct. 28. The Rams will play Southern Lehigh in the state semifinals on Saturday, Oct. 31, and the winner of Latrobe vs. Manheim Township for the state championship later that day should they advance. 

“I think it’s a great starting point (for the program),” Reagan said. “Our school had never even won one match at districts, so being able to win there allows our program to know we shouldn’t be on the outside looking in. We should be someone, hopefully, in district playoffs for years to come.”