North Catholic boys tennis won the WPIAL Class 2A team championship with a 4-1 decision over Valley on Wednesday. Submitted Photo

North Catholic’s boys tennis team may have surprised some people when it defeated top-seeded South Park in Monday’s WPIAL Class 2A team semifinals, but the best was yet to come for the Trojans.

In Wednesday’s championship match against Valley, North claimed the first district team championship in program history with a 4-1 victory at Washington & Jefferson College’s Janet L. Swanson Tennis Center.

Alex Weber and Alex Lopez-Foubert won at second and third singles, respectively. Doubles duos of Jake Sinclair/Paddy McCabe and Jackson Schlegel/Brennen Lord helped clinch the title.

“I knew we had a shot to win, that’s been my message to the team all year,” North coach Sean Malone said. “I think the WPIAL committee had a difficult job when it came to the seedings because a lot of the top teams did not play each other this year.

“Our girls team won WPIALs in the fall, so to follow that up with this, it’s pretty incredible.”

Malone said Wednesday’s meeting with the Vikings had the feel of a match with much at stake.

“Their kids were amazing, never gave up on a ball the whole time,” he said. “Their top singles player (Landon Harclerode) was phenomenal today. He defeated our No. 1, Justin Garvey, and Justin placed second in the WPIAL last month.”

The Trojans (12-2) won Section 3-2A with an undefeated record before dispatching Mount Pleasant and Winchester Thurston in the first round and quarterfinals.

That set up the semifinal against South Park.

“We had faced them (and won) in last year’s WPIAL consolation match,” Malone said. “I knew they were really good at 1 and 2 singles this year, but it turned out we have more depth.

“Our boys were tremendous, picked each other up the whole tournament.”

The Trojans will begin play in the 16-team PIAA tournament Tuesday.

“This is the fifth straight year we’ve made the state playoffs, but our goal is to get to Hershey (final eight),” Malone said. “By winning the WPIAL, we should get a favorable draw.”