Menlo News May 30, 2026

Boys’ tennis state champions!

The Knights (29-0) defeated Harvard-Westlake to complete a perfect season

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A state championship was the final piece, and the Menlo boys’ tennis team claimed a first CIF crown, finishing an unblemished season with a 5-2 win over Harvard-Westlake at Fresno State on Saturday.

Menlo's No. 1 Yuanye Ma qinds up for a serve against Harvard Westlake in the state championship.With that the Knights compiled an impressive 29-0 overall record. The last time the Menlo boys’ tennis went undefeated was 2018, also going 29-0, and winning the All-American Invitational, NorCals. CCS and league. The California Interscholastic Federation began the boys’ tennis state championship in 2024 with University-Irvine winning in 2024 and 2025.

Winning state was always a goal since last year when they suffered a 4-3 loss to University. Making sure that they put one foot in front of the other was key to their success this season.

“This year, we did a good job of staying focused on the present,” said Yuanye Ma, Menlo’s No.1 player, and one of four team captains. “Even though states has been a goal since the first practice, we were focused on each day to day goal.”

One at a time

And they did, starting with the season kickoff Bill Shine Invitational, named after thier beloved longtime coach who was at the courts Saturday. From there, the Knights won …

National All-American Invitational
CIF-NorCal
CCS
WBAL
Bay Area Classic

In the final, after Lucas Huang won at No. 3 singles, then the freshman duo of Sage Ash and Alex Zhou at No. 3 doubles, followed by Yuanye Ma’s win at No.1, the No.1 doubles went to tiebreak. Knights senior Arki Temsamani and freshman Maximus Chan were paired at No.1 doubles for much of the season, and clinched the win. With Temsamani serving, and delivering three to the baseline, a short return, led to back-to-back volleys from Maximus Chan to his opponents’ feet for the win.

For them it was a moment to remember, but just as long lasting are the post-practice dinners, poker games and banter.

Menlo junior Lucas Huang sends a baseline drive‘Life changing’

“Menlo tennis has been one of the greatest experiences through high school. In middle school, I was always looking forward to it, but when I was younger, I didn’t know if I had a future in tennis,” Temsamani said.

“The second I stepped foot on the Menlo varsity, all I can say is it was life-changing. I love this sport. I love the brotherhood, and everyone looking out for each other. Everyone has to do their part to make it count.”

For the senior captains, Ma, Temsamani, Brad Engel and Matthew Franc, it was the best possible way to end their prep careers.

“I was getting very emotional before the match,” Ma said. “This season is what I look forward to each year. Coming into this match, I knew it would be my last shot, and win or lose, my last high school match. It means so much.”

The team to beat

Huang was first off the courts with a straight-sets win at No. 3 singles.

“I was happy to take care of the match and be able to cheer on my teammates,” he said. “Going into this season everyone was very motivated, knowing all the hard work we were putting in, early-morning lifts, in practices - all to get back to this moment and change what happened.”

Once they won the All-American Invitational, all eyes were on Menlo as the one to beat all season.

“We knew the job wasn’t finished,” Huang said. “From the Bill Shine Invitational and going to the All-America tournament and winning for the first time for this team was really special, we knew we had to come in take care of business in the postseason, league, CCS and NorCals, and then here at state.”