Avon falls to Hand in Class M championship match, 4-1

written by Gerry deSimas, Jr., Collinsville Press | June 3, 2026

With a pair of wins in singles and doubles, the Daniel Hand boys tennis team won their seventh state championship with a 4-1 victory over Avon in the Class M championship match at Amity Regional in Woodbridge on Wednesday.

The two teams were meeting in the championship match for the third consecutive year. A year ago, the Tigers beat the Falcons 5-2.

Victories from Aiden Zhang at No. 3 singles and Harrison Hodge at No. 4 singles gave No. 1 seed Hand (21-3) two victories. Hand’s William Riggio and Danny Wang prevailed at No. 3 doubles while Gavin Watertown/Marcelo Gonzalves lost the first set to Avon’s Ethan Klotz and Harsha Lakamraju at No. 1 doubles, won the second set, 6-4, and prevailed in a tiebreaker, 10-3 to secure the victory.

Avon’s Charles Schaff won at No. 2 singles. Two other matches in progress were not completed once Hand had clinched the win.

No. 2 seed Avon, under head coach Matt Krenicky, went 15-4 on the year. The Falcons shared the CCC Central championship with Hall with both teams going 7-1 in the division.

Avon blanked East Lyme and Brookfield, 7-0 in the state tournament before beating Branford, 5-2 in the semifinals. Avon was playing in the state final for the sixth straight season, last having won in 2024.

Championship: Hand 4, Avon 1
At Woodbridge
Singles: Russell Lin (A) leads Adrian Fernandez, 7-6 (5), 3-2 (not completed); Charles Schaff (A) def. Andrew Seehause, 6-3, 6-4; Aiden Zhang (H) def. Aarav Nohria 6-4, 6-4; Harrison Hodge (H) def. Nabeel Chamuswala, 6-0, 6-0
Doubles: Gavin Waterman/Marcelo Gonzalves (H) def. Ethan Klotz/Harsha Lakamraju 3-6, 6-4,10-3; Paul Fumex/Nathaniel Konstantino (H) leads Abid Syed/Eric Kim, 7-5, 6-6 (not completed); William Riggio/Danny Wang (H) def. Naveen Natchiappan/Advik Singh, 7-5, 6-4
Records: Avon 15-4; Hand 21-3; Of note: Avon and Hand met in the Class M final for the third straight year with Hand winning their second consecutive title. Avon has played in the finals for six straight years, winning in 2021-24.

Semifinal: Avon 5, Branford 2
At Avon (AOF)
Singles: Russell Lin (A) def. Schalper 6-4, 7-6 (6); Gaudreau (B) def. Charles Schaff 6-2, 6-7 (3), 10-2; Aarav Nohria (A) def. Bhawnani, 6-3, 7-6 (5), Akin (B) def. Nabeel Chamuswala, 6-1, 6-1
Doubles: Ethan Klotz/Harsha Lakamraju (A) def. Ferrara/Bhawnani 6-4, 3-6,10-4; Abid Syed/Eric Kim (A) def. Talmadge/Tran, 6-2, 6-3; Naveen Natchiappan/Advik Singh (A) def. Jayanetti/Fryer, 6-1, 6-2
Records: Avon 15-3, Branford 16-5; Of note: Avon faces Hand in the Class M final for the third straight year on Wednesday at Amity.

Quarterfinal: Avon 7, East Lyme 0
At Avon (AOF)
Singles:  Lin (A) def. Huang (EL) 6-3, 6-0; Schaff (A) def. Stadler (EL) 6-3, 6-3; Nohria (A) def. Dong (EL) 6-3, 7-6 (4); Chasmawula (A) def. Marko (EL) 6-1, 6-0
Doubles: Klotz/Lahamraju (A) def. Rindel/Lovering (EL) 6-3, 3-6, 10-5; Kim/Syed(A) def. Chen/Zhang(EL) 6-4, 4-6,10-4; Natchiappan/Singh def. Wren/Colin(EL) 6-0, 6-3
Records: Avon 14-3, East Lyme 15-1; Of note: Avon advances to Class M semifinals and will host No. 3 Branford on Tuesday at AOF.

Second round: Avon 7, Brookfield 0
At Avon (AOF)
Singles:  Lin (A) def. Dalaku (B) 6-7(3), 6-4,10-3; Schaff(A) def. Albin(B) 6-0, 6-1; Nohria (A) def. Matheny (B) 6-1, 6-1; Chamawal (A) def. Cofone 6-2, 6-1
Doubles: Klotz/Lahlamraju (A) def. Haxhinasto/Dave 6-0, 6-0; Kim/Syed (A) def. Bogues/Guarishetti  6-1,6-0; Avon wins by forfeit
Records: Avon 13-3