The rumors of the dethroning of St. Christopher's tennis from the VISAA perch were just that - rumors.

The varsity tennis team took down No. 2 Potomac 5-3 Saturday, May 16 for another state title, the program's seventh in a row. 

StC, seeded fourth, trailed 2-1 coming out of the doubles with a win at Line 3 from Ryland Willett '30 and Gabe Faulstich '28. In singles, No. 1 Gray Dion '28, No. 3 Loch Macfarlane '27 and No. 5 Willett took wins before Crawford Barbour '30 clinched the match at No. 2, sending the team into a frenzy.

This was supposed to be a down year; a rebuild of sorts.

Only Dion returned from last year's powerful lineup, as five seniors graduated, including three all-state performers. Macfarlane and Hayden Doyle '27, this year's captains, saw time but took on totally different roles in 2026.

"This has been a remarkable season with a special group of players," Saints head coach Pontus Hiort said. "I do not think we have ever seen such a growth in the entire team from the first day of the practice to the last, and that is a testament to their work ethic and determination.

"Each and every day, they have shown up ready to put their best foot forward, and as a result we have had steady progress throughout the entire season."

Three regular-season losses, two to Collegiate, seemed to signal this was the end of the run. Heck, tennis hadn't lost in its past 23 matches and was 76-1 in the five previous seasons heading into 2026.

The group was undaunted, fueled by tremendous leadership from coaches Hiort and Garrett Horsley, and a group of youthful players that grew by leaps and bounds as the season went on.

"I would also be remiss if I did not highlight their coachability," Hiort said. "They have been extremely open to feedback, and always displayed a true understanding of what it takes to get better, which has made them a joy to work with.

"Lastly, their resiliency has been second to none. Anytime they faced adversity, they simply gritted their teeth, buckled down, and worked even harder."

The team won the Prep League tournament May 8, perhaps a signal this group starting two eighth graders had blossomed. It then handled Paul VI 5-0 in the state quarters and shocked No. 1 St. Stephen's/St. Agnes 5-3 before winning at Potomac to keep the VISAA crown comfy on St. Christopher's Road.

The entire starting lineup returns in 2027 for Hiort.

"Truly a special, special group of student-athletes."