Jon Grove
sports@themercury.com
JUNCTION CITY — Manhattan High boys’ tennis closed out the 6A state championships on Saturday with a strong showing, finishing in a tie for fifth place — its first top-five finish since 2021.
The tournament was marked by challenging weather, with gusty winds affecting play throughout the weekend. Despite these conditions, Manhattan’s athletes demonstrated composure and adaptability, particularly in singles competition.
Freshman Jay Hoke and senior Advith Natarajan led Manhattan’s efforts in singles, showing both skill and resilience in the challenging conditions. Hoke, in his state debut, advanced to Day 2 and finished seventh overall with a 5-2 record.
