It was a nice way to end a high school career.

Cooper Lehman wrapped up his four years at Hempfield with a bang, teaming with freshman Braylen Garcia to survive after facing several match points and win the PIAA Class 3A boys tennis doubles title May 24 at Hershey Racquet Club.

That gave the senior his first state title after finishing third in 3A singles last year and fourth the year before. He also won three Lancaster-Lebanon League and District Three 3A singles titles.

His performance with Garcia highlighted the L-L boys tennis season.

It was an interesting finish for Lehman, who was unable to earn a fourth L-L singles title, but took L-L and district doubles crowns with Garcia.

“It’s such a great way for him to go out,” said Hempfield coach Mindi Bell after the state doubles final. “We’re going to miss him so much next year. He’s been such a key part of our team for all four years.”

He and Garcia helped the Black Knights win their first 15 matches this season and the Section One title, take second in the L-L and fourth in the district 3A team tournaments, advance to states and finish 16-4. Other than a 3-0 loss to eventual champion Conestoga in the PIAA tournament, the Knights’ losses were all by 3-2 scores.

State performances

Lehman and Garcia seemed poised to go home with a state silver medal after falling 6-2 in the first set and facing match point in the second down 5-3. Their opponents from Dallastown, Jacob Horn and Hayden Koons, were playing at a higher level than when they met for the District Three Class 3A title.

But suddenly there was a momentum swing and the Hempfield pair came back to win 7-6 (7-4) and finished off the comeback with a 6-3 third-set victory.

“It was like … is this real?” said Lehman after the match. “Just an hour, hour-and-a-half ago, we weren’t even close, facing match points. It’s just crazy to think that we could dig that deep, and we did.”

Lehman and Garcia were the only state champions from the L-L. Other league representatives at the PIAA championships included Ephrata sophomore Zach Keiper, who was the only other entry to advance past the first round, falling in three sets in the Class 3A quarterfinals.

Team-wise, in addition to Hempfield’s loss to the eventual state 3A champ, Lancaster Country Day (13-4) and Manheim Township (18-4) lost their 3A openers and Pequea Valley lost in 2A.

In 3A doubles, Cedar Crest seniors Viseth Meng and Joe Shkreli had a tough 6-4, 6-4 loss to Gateway’s Zidaan Hassan and Logan Memije, who lost to Lehman and Garcia in the semifinals before winning the third-place match.

In 2A doubles, Pequea Valley seniors Cole Stoltzfus and Hayden Winey lost their opener in three sets to the eventual runner-up, Jonah Jasek and Steven Duing of South Park.

Lancaster Country Day senior Michael Georgelis, who was the 2024 2A champ before the Cougars were bumped up to 3A via the PIAA’s competition formula, after winning two straight 2A state team titles, lost his opener in straight sets, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).