Troy Shefsky is on a par with his older brother.
But, the new Metro Conference tennis champion said, “I’m trying to one-up him. It’s a little joke in the family.”
The Omaha Westside junior will get the chance to be a two-time winner next year after defeating Alex Liu of team champion Omaha Creighton Prep 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 (retired). The No. 1 singles final lasted 2 hours, 48 minutes Thursday at Koch Tennis Center.
Liu, a senior, was in his third consecutive final, all against the Shefsky brothers. AJ Shefsky won in 2023 and Troy lost in 2024.
Liu was treated three times for leg cramps – the first time between the first and second sets — before he landed hard on the court from trying to reach a high return by Shefsky in the 10-point tiebreaker.
“He’s a tough competitor,’’ Shefsky said. “He’s never going to give me anything easy.
“I tried to work on my movement consistency. He’s a great player, and when he gets down like that, I got to keep my foot on the pedal.”
In the second set, Shefsky said he felt the match was slipping away when Liu broke his serve at 3-2.
“When he broke me there I thought it was over and then I realized, I’m already out here, might as well give him my all to go get it,’’ Shefsky said.
Prep coach Jerry Kowal said he, not Liu, decided to end the match.
“As the head coach, it is my decision, yeah,’’ Kowal said. “Also, I’m also a school teacher, so I care about my kids and I’m going to make the decision on what’s best for his health.
“He didn’t want to quit. He kept saying, ‘No’ (about quitting). I’m like, ‘No, you’re done.’”
Prep won the other divisions for a 44-29 edge over runner-up Millard North. The Junior Jays had clinched their third consecutive Metro crown after Wednesday’s semifinals.
Junior Jay junior Blake Goeken stayed undefeated and repeated as No. 2 singles champion by outlasting Millard West senior Patrick Berry 7-6 (6-4), 6-4. Seniors Ben Clausen and Rowan Lunning defeated Millard West senior Jake Smiley and sophomore Jackson Skiko 6-2, 6-2 to repeat. At No. 2 doubles, senior Daniel Jurrens and junior Matt McGill defeated Millard North senior Tyler Epstein and junior Nishanth Kandala 6-0,6-0. McGill won the division last year with older brother Luke.
“Blake had a good match. He battled. Tie-break first set and then came back and was pretty close to even in the second set,’’ Kowal said. “No. 1 doubles had Millard West and that was a revenge match, because we lost to them in a duel. So we avenged that loss and then our No. 2 doubles is pretty darn good.”
Team scoring: Omaha Creighton Prep 44, Millard North 29, Millard West 27, Elkhorn South 26, Omaha Westside 22.5, Papillion-La Vista 14.5, Bellevue West 12, Omaha Westview 12.25, Papillion-La Vista South 10, Millard South 2.5, Omaha Bryan 2.25, Omaha Burke 2.25, Bellevue East 1.75, Omaha South 1.25, Omaha Central 0.5, Omaha Benson 0.5, Omaha Northwest 0.25, Omaha North no team.
No. 1 singles – Final: Troy Shefsky, OWS, def. Alex Liu, CP, 4-6, 6-4, 3-2 (retired, injury). Third: Jackson Mu, MN, def. Jason Dubrow, ES, 6-0, 7-5/ Fifth: Micah Cortinas, OWV, def. Henry Fredericks, MW, 8-1.
No. 2 singles – Final: Blake Goeken, CP, def. Patrick Berry, MW, 7-6 (6-4), 6-4. Third: Ryan Thomas, ES, def. Taylor Tauber, OWS, 6-2, 6-4. Fifth: Arun Rao, MN, def. Cade Wills, PLV, 8-4.
No. 1 doubles – Final: Ben Clausen/Rowan Lunning, CP, def. Jake Smiley/Jackson Skiko, MW, 6-2, 6-2. Third: Anuraag Ganti/Austin Gong, MN, def. Nick Fischer/Ethan Day, ES, 6-4, 6-4. Fifth: Jacob Feekin/Noah Lozier, PLV, def. Sergio Davila Sans/Brooks Mullen, OWV, 8-2.
No. 2 doubles – Final: Daniel Jurrens/Matt McGill, CP, def. Tyler Epstein/Nishanth Kandala, MN, 6-0,6-0. Third: Ethan Mechals/Abe Hustad, ES, def. Lucas Askew/Davis Schulte, MW, 6-2, 6-4. Fifth: Travis Andringa/Tommy McCann, PS, def. Colton Peters/Easton Mahnks, PLV, 8-4.
stu.pospisil@owh.com, twitter.com/stuOWH
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Stu Pospisil
Reporter – High school sports
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