With a 7-0 sweep over Cromwell, Morgan boys tennis clinched the program’s third Shoreline Conference championship–and it’s first since 2018. 

Morgan finds itself in a rare position, having clinched the conference title halfway through the season, as the league determines its champion based on regular-season results. Each team plays every conference opponent once through, with those results determining the final standings. Although Morgan faces six Shoreline teams a second time, only the first meeting counts toward the championship. 

The unbeaten Huskies have dominated the early season with a 65-5 record in individual matches, and have fully taken advantage of the league’s format–one that even head coach Chris Zawadski admits can feel unusual. “I don’t like the fact that we’re conference champions–it’s not even made for reciting,” Zawadski said. “It is weird. It just doesn’t make sense.”

In his opinion, a postseason tournament would be a more fitting way to determine a champion. “I’d rather play a tournament,” Zawadski said. “Some coaches are really pushing for that because that’s what makes the most sense.” 

Regardless of how it’s decided, the championship represents the culmination of years of growth for Morgan’s program. For senior captain Nicholas Vetrano in particular, the title is a long time coming. 

On his long awaited championship, “It was a great feeling, because my freshman and junior year we placed second, and it was heartbreaking to be so close,” Vetrano said. “Finally, my senior year, we got the title. Feels good to get a year on that banner.”  

That breakthrough was no accident. Morgan began to separate themselves from their opponents almost a full calendar year before their season got underway. 

“We had practices over the summer so that we were ready coming into the season, and most teams didn’t do that,” Vetrano said. “We got a step up on the teams, and it carried over into our season.”

Now, the Huskies have combined experience, top-end talent, and depth to establish themselves as a tier above the rest of the league.

According to Zawadski, the conference landscape this season features “a couple good teams and a lot of teams that have a lot of kids who are new to the sport of tennis.” 

Morgan’s advantage, Zawadski explained, comes from a lineup filled with players who have been competing for years, many of whom began playing well before high school. 

At the top of the lineup, No. 1 singles player junior Nathan Miller, No. 2 Vetrano, and No. 4 freshman Dylan Miller have all been playing since a young age. In doubles, juniors Hendrick Bausch, Mekai Howard, and Jude Watson also have youth experience. 

Meanwhile, sophomores Zhen Wu and Dustin Ly have already gained a year of varsity experience at No. 3 doubles. While seniors Nicholas Hicks and Andrew Alvarez-Hidalgo, who began playing in high school, bring multiple seasons of varsity experience to the lineup.  

With veterans at the top, Morgan has won 39 out of 40 singles matches this season, a level of consistency that has often made doubles matches unnecessary in deciding outcomes.

“It’s only happened once this year where doubles really mattered,” Zawadski said. “You want to win 7-0, but it’s nice not having that pressure when you know your singles players are that good.” 

Still, the team’s success isn’t just about star power, but also the depth of the lineup. Morgan’s 19-player roster is largest in the conference, proving to be instrumental when injuries or absences occur.

Zawadski believes what he considers to be his “JV tennis” would be varsity contributors at other schools, making them more than ready for when their number is called. 

Following the regular season success, Morgan is setting its sights beyond the Shoreline title. 

“Winning Shorelines is a good starting point, but our focus is now states,” Vetrano said. 

As for Zawadski, “we really want an undefeated season.”

The biggest threat to that feat will be their away match against Suffield on Saturday, May 2. The Wildcats are the reigning state champions, and the only other undefeated team in Class S. They came to Morgan last year and won 4-3.

A win on Saturday would pay dividends for the Huskies’ resume as they push for a top seed in the state tournament. 

Looking ahead to the CIAC tournament, Zawadski believes this team has the pieces to compete at the highest level. 

“There’s no one we look at and feel like we can’t compete with,” Zawadski said. 

He pointed to one key advantage–Nathan Miller. “Having him as our number one, we go into every match knowing we’re already up 1-0,” Zawadski said. “With Miller in Class S, there might be one kid–maybe two–who could potentially beat him.”

With Miller leading the way, Morgan has the confidence that they will use the Shoreline title as both an achievement and a stepping stone, as they chase something even bigger.