On June 5, the WHS boys tennis team ended their impressive 17-9 season with a 4-1 loss to Columbia. Their efforts propelled them to the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Sectional Finals, where they had a highly anticipated rematch of last year’s championship versus Columbia. Despite close matches across all courts, Westfield failed to pull through and had a somber finish to a successful season. Coming into the spring as reigning sectional champions, the Blue Devils knew defending their title would require replacing critical 2025 seniors’ leadership while managing an extremely competitive roster.
The trajectory of the season was defined by steady growth while playing through an incredibly demanding regular-season schedule. Looking to test his squad early and often, head coach Matthew Varhley intentionally pitted the Blue Devils against elite opponents.
“The biggest challenges we faced this season were playing the state’s most difficult schedule,” Varhley explained. “We scheduled 8 top-20 teams and played 5 top-10 teams. Rather than getting discouraged from the tough losses, the players learned how to stay resilient and continue to work hard. I saw tremendous growth in their mental toughness, confidence and ability to support one another through difficult moments. Those lessons will stay with them long after this season is over.”
That resilience paid off mid-season during a regular-season clash against Westfield’s eventual sectional foe, Columbia. After dropping the opening set at his position, senior tri-captain Evan Kahn rallied to secure a defining individual victory that catalyzed a massive team win.
“My favorite moment of this year was our regular-season win against Columbia,” Kahn reflected. “It highlighted the growth that we had as a team and personal growth for me, as I was able to win the match after losing the first set. So, although we lost to Columbia in the sectional finals, beating them in the regular season was a really great accomplishment for us.”
Statistically, the program underwent a massive development, nearly doubling its roster size from 9 players last year to 16 this season. This internal depth transformed everyday practices into highly competitive environments. Ultimately, the numbers told a story of a team peaking at the right time, navigating their brutal schedule to rise right as the postseason tournament commenced.
Varhley said, “Whether in practice or a match, our players set the tone every day with their work ethic, accountability, and positive attitude.” Varhley noted, “One of the biggest misconceptions about high school tennis is that it’s purely individual. While we compete on five separate courts, the team goal is to win three, so each court is accountable to the others.”
As the program looks ahead to next spring, they will look to weaponize the depth of their younger varsity returners to reclaim the sectional crown. While losing key seniors leaves large shoes to fill, the foundation laid by this year’s leadership has permanently altered the program’s culture.
For the departing seniors, the legacy of Westfield tennis stretches far beyond the wins and losses etched into the record books. They will remember it by the unique culture and camaraderie they created together.
“Tennis can be a really tough sport, but the fact that we all like to keep each other up with our energy is something that I admired about this year,” senior tri-captain Leo Goldman said. “It’s hard because tennis is not really a team sport, but high school tennis is. So being able to lean on each other and look outside of the fence for support is something that I hope I can keep going in the future… and people remember Arden [Rappoport], Evan and I as three captains that contributed positively to the team, community and environment.”
Beyond the wins and losses etched into the record books, this year’s tennis team will be remembered by its unique culture and the brotherhood they have created.
