Fenwick senior Damania earns a bid to state

Franklin, Madison, Monroe players don't fare as well.

CENTERVILLE — The wait is over for Fenwick High School senior Rahul Damania.

Making his fourth straight appearance in the Division II district tennis tournament, Damania finally broke through Thursday, May 20, at Centerville.

The left-hander won two matches to reach the semifinals and lock up a berth in next week’s state tournament.

The top four finishers advance.

“I’ve waited four years,” Damania said. “It’s always been my dream to make it to state and just be able to step out on the court.”

He will face Wyoming’s Mason Bourbon in Saturday’s semifinals. Play begins at 9 a.m.

Damania played doubles at districts as a freshman with former teammate Patrick Connaughton. Both played singles the last two seasons and reached districts, with Connaughton reaching state last year as a senior.

“To see Patrick do it ahead of me last year, I was so happy for him,” Damania said. “I just wanted to join him (as a state qualifier).”

Damania will get to do just that thanks to a pair of straight-set wins — 6-1, 7-5 over Miami Valley Christian Academy’s Brandon Clark and 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over Chaminade Julienne’s John Buerschen.

In their quarterfinal match, Damania fell behind Buerschen 5-2 in the opening set, but rallied to win 10 of the next 13 games and a tiebreaker to advance.

“Nerves were a big factor in the match,” Damania said. “I just had to keep pumping myself up to get rid of them somehow.”

In addition to his own teammates, several coaches and players from other schools were pulling for Damania. That didn’t surprise Fenwick coach Ed Bentley.

“I’ve had coaches whose kid just got beat come up and say, ‘I just want to tell you. He’s one great kid,’ ” Bentley said. “It’s enjoyable for this to happen to someone who loves the game, but is also such a nice young man.”

The state tourney is May 28-29 at Ohio State University’s Stickney Tennis Center in Columbus.