Update, June 4, 12:45 p.m.: This story has been updated to reflect that assistant coach Asa Townsend died in March 2026.

The boys tennis team finished tied for 14th place out of 66 schools at the IHSA State Championship at Palatine High School May 28-30, concluding its first season in the larger 2A division.

Five players qualified for the state tournament: Tyler Chang and Kieran Mulangi, doubles; Arjun Sawhney and Chris Williams, doubles; Nick Gulyayev, singles.

This was U-High’s first season competing in 2A after being moved up from 1A, a transition that meant facing schools with enrollments of roughly 1,405 students or more, compared with U-High’s enrollment of about 620 — which had previously placed them among 1A schools, all enrolling 1,404 students or fewer. U-High was 2025 state champion in the 1A division.

“We lost two of our very best seniors who graduated last year, so there was a lot of room for new talent on the team,” Arjun said. “But Tyler and Kieran, as seniors, really stepped up and have been excellent in their leadership.”

In singles, Nick, a sophomore, won his opening match before losing in the second round, then won a consolation match before being eliminated. In doubles, both U-High pairs — Tyler and Kieran, and Arjun and Chris — won their first matches before dropping their next two.

Arjun also complimented the team’s coaches, band teacher Andrew Norte and Talib Dawuad for maintaining team spirit even after the loss of the team’s former coach Asa Townsend’s death in March.