For the first time in history, Manhattan High’s varsity boys tennis team took first at Centennial League on Monday.

“This is the first time we’ve won it. It feels great. It feels really good,” coach Joyce Allen said. “I thought the boys played well and matches were fun to watch. It was a good day… It’s a great thing for them. It’s a great thing for Manhattan High.”

Junior Bryan Armbrust agrees.

“We were planning on winning it. We were all really excited. We were all jumping around… we jammed out on the car ride back blasting music,” Armbrust said. “We were all really excited to win it since it was the first time in MHS history to do that.”

Armbrust placed fifth overall.

“I went five and one and knocked off Washburn’s [Rural] No. 2 so that was good,” Armbrust said. “I thought I played well. Going five and one is always a good day. It’ll add to the records so I’ll hopefully get a better seeding for Regionals.”

“We knew Bryce [Easton] wasn’t going to beat the kid from Hayden; Tommy Hunter is a two-time state singles champion but he ended up second,” Allen said. “That’s kind of where he was suppose to be. He had to beat Washburn Rural to be in the finals so Bryce ended up second. Bryan ended up fifth. [Kirkland] Lambert and [Collin] Queal came in first and [Camden] Adams and [Benaiah] Gorman came in seventh and we had to have that match in order to win; if they had came in eighth, it wouldn’t have happened. They were seeded eleventh and ended up seventh so that was really good.”

The team beat out Washburn Rural by two points.

“We only won by two points. Let’s say Bryan came in sixth instead of fifth; that’s one point lost. If Camden and Benaiah had come in eighth there would be two points right there,” Allen said. “They did a phenomenal job. It’s not just the first and second place winners that win it for you, it’s those other guys that have to also share the load and do their part.”

“I think it’s very exciting for [Allen],” Armbrust said. “I know she’s really excited that we’re doing well and she’s always hoping for the best for us. I’m just glad we could get her a medal too.”

The team has put their win behind them and is focusing on the upcoming Regional competition this Saturday.