PRINT: First-Round Defeat Ends Tennis Run

State tournament halts strong run from the boys tennis team

Brielle Hoover, Sport’s Editor

May 15, 2026

The Robinson boys tennis team posing for a picture after winning Districts

The Robinson boys’ tennis team has made their mark on the court this season. Going 11-4 overall and 5-1 in districts, the team has managed to make it to regionals, where they gave it their all in an attempt to win a state title.

“Our tennis season was definitely a lot of fun, I feel like overall we’ve all individually got much better,” Nitin Kurup (’28) said. “Winning regionals was awesome. We were seeded number 1, so it was all about getting out there and executing.”

The team showed perseverance and dedication all season, leaving it all on the court and seeing their efforts pay off. Even with a loss in states, the team has had an impeccable year as they worked to get better as a team and as individuals. All players worked their hardest to win what they could; with the loss, they work to keep their heads held high after winning districts and regionals.

“It means a lot that we’re really dominant as a team in our district,” Veyd Patel (’28) said. “We only lost one out of the seven lines that we played against.”

Patel has been a key player at the No. 1 singles spot this season, consistently setting the tone with his strong performances. As the postseason approaches, he remains focused and determined, eager to continue putting in the work so he can return even more prepared and dominate even more next year. However, his interests aren’t just for him, but also for the team as well. He hopes the team can come back even better and stronger than before.

“Next season we’re just looking for more growth and more domination to come,” Patel said.

Following their regional championship, the team lost in the first round of states; the team they lost to was another dominant force that made it to the finals. Sadly, the Knights couldn’t get the win, but they learned a lot and are ready to work even harder. This team has proven themselves this season and they hope to keep up the work moving into the upcoming years. Even though the journey ended sooner than hoped at the state level, the boys’ tennis team proved their strength with a district title and a dominant regional championship run, leaving behind a season defined by resilience, growth, and determination.

Donate to Knight Writers

$200

$1500

Contributed

Our Goal

Your donation will support the student journalists of Robinson High School - FL. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributor

Brielle Hoover, Staff Writer

Brielle Hoover is an IB Freshman at Robinson High School and serves as a staff writer for the Knight Writers. This is her first year on the staff. As she begins her journey into newspaper, Hoover hopes to grow as both a photographer and writer. “Coming into high school, I wanted to join newspaper because I want to be a journalist when I’m older, so I thought this would be an amazing opportunity that will prepare me for it,” Hoover said. Outside of newspaper, Hoover enjoys following sports and is especially passionate about hockey. Passionate to the fact that she even loves reading nonfiction hockey books. ”I like reading nonfiction hockey novels because when I get older, I want to work in the hockey field as a commentator or photographer or maybe even a coach,” Hoover said. She also enjoys watching Only Murders in the Building for its mix of comedy, music, mystery and of course Selena Gomez. On a lighter note, she still loves her favorite childhood show, Paw Patrol, which continues to bring her joy. ”I want to stay in newspaper for my whole high school career because I want to become a better writer, so I can be prepared for when I write my college essay,” Hoover said. Three words that Hoover would describe herself with are funny, resilient and joyful. She likes making jokes and cheering people up. Hoover also tries her hardest on everything and is willing to do anything to set herself up for success. She’s excited to be a part of the Knight Writers staff and looks forward to learning new skills, meeting new people and sharing stories that will inspire others. (Profile by Destiny Velazquez)