SCRANTON \u2014\u00a0Abington Heights has a boys\u2019 tennis dynasty.<\/p>\n
The program, under the guidance of coach Art Comstock, continued to dominate the Lackawanna League. In only their second match of the 2026 season, the Comets powered to a 5-0 win over rival Scranton Prep on an overcast Monday at the Scranton Prep Tennis Complex.<\/p>\n
Abington Heights won its 52nd straight match in league play in a streak that started at the end of the 2021 season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great to be a part of this program,\u201d Prayush Mallaiah said. \u201cWe have a positive attitude going into all of the matches. Seeing different players and interacting with them is really great.\u201d<\/p>\n
Abington Heights has some familiar names leading the charge.<\/p>\n
Prayush Mallaiah is a freshman newcomer, and he is the No. 8 player in Pennsylvania for his class according to tennisrecruiting.net. He is the younger brother of Praneel Mallaiah, who won three District 2 Class 3A championships and had a 73-9 career record.<\/p>\n
Prayush Mallaiah is sharp in his execution and already shows a high skill set. He has emerged as the No. 1 singles player in a talented lineup.<\/p>\n
In his match at the center court, Prayush Mallaiah moved the ball with speed and efficiency. He is mature beyond his years and showed poise in a 6-0, 6-1 win over Scranton Prep\u2019s Matthew Cohen.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been playing tennis for a long time,\u201d Mallaiah said. \u201cPlus, I have been playing against my brother. I played USTA tournaments and prepared myself for this. My game is developing well. I want to get more consistent and follow through on the ball more.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn\u2019t feel too much pressure coming in to replace my brother. I just go out there and play my game and see what happens.\u201d<\/p>\n
William Arp, a junior, is a two-time All-Region selection. He was the top returning player in the league after finishing runner-up to Praneel Mallaiah in the District 2 Class 3A Singles Championships. He had a 15-2 record at No. 2 singles and has a 31-5 career record.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is great to be a part of this,\u201d Arp said. \u201cWe are a close team, and that really helps when we are at practice. We have a great group of guys.\u201d<\/p>\n
Arp comes from a tennis family. His sister, Susan Arp, was a three-time District 2 Class 3A champion and graduated with a career record of 70-11. His mother, Kelly Arp, is a past Times-Tribune Girls\u2019 Tennis Coach of the Year.<\/p>\n
He takes pride in being a part of the Abington Heights program. Arp earned a win over Paul Dominick, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 2 singles.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the end of last season, we had a disappointing loss in the first round of states, because we had so much momentum,\u201d Arp said. \u201cThis year, we carried some of that momentum and added some players who can take over for the players who we lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
Liam Farrell is also a returning All-Region player. He is a doubles specialist but on this day got called into singles duty when Brady Comstock, also an All-Region player, came down with an illness.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was a little surprised,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cI didn\u2019t even know until we were on our way here. I mentally prepared on the bus. I warmed up with Prayush and Will, and that helped me get ready for the match.\u201d<\/p>\n
Farrell turned in an outstanding performance with a 6-1, 6-1 win over Anthony Delayo at No. 3 singles.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am a senior, so this is my fourth year,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cWe have a new team and a young team. I know that the program will be good in the future. I love how we are building chemistry as we go along this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
Last season, Farrell and Brady Comstock were the District 2 Class 3A doubles champions. They were undefeated in the league and finished 17-1 overall.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love doubles,\u201d Farrell said. \u201cI am more of a doubles player. It is overlooked sometimes. There is a lot of team coordination with your partner to be a good team.\u201d<\/p>\n
In addition to Prayush Mallaiah, the new faces in the lineup were on the doubles courts. Bryce Comstock and Brody Goldberg defeated Keelin Kirby-Myles Frieder, 6-2, 6-2.<\/p>\n
Sebastian Meyer and Roman Donnelly earned a win over Liam O\u2019Boyle-Martin Smith, 6-2, 6-1.<\/p>\n
Abington Heights, which has had several matches postponed, will have to log a lot of competition before it heads into the postseason.<\/p>\n
When the District 2 Class 3A Team Championships start, the Comets will enter as the 12-time defending champions.<\/p>\n
Singles: Mallaiah (AH) over Cohen, 6-0, 6-1. Arp (AH) over Dominick, 6-1, 6-0. Farrell over Delayo, 6-1, 6-1;\u00a0Doubles:\u00a0Bryce Comstock-Goldberg (AH) over Kirby-Frieder, 6-2, 6-2.\u00a0Meyer-Donnelly (AH) over O\u2019Boyle-Smith, 6-2, 6-1;\u00a0Records: AH 2-0, SP 2-2.<\/p>\n
Scranton 5, Wallenpaupack 0:\u00a0Tom Bergman won his No. 1 singles match in straight sets, and the doubles teams of Neer Patel and Rahil Patel, and Yug Patel and Jeffrey Kaub won their matches for the Knights.<\/p>\n
Singles:\u00a0Bergman (SCR) over Hathaway, 6-0, 6-0. V. Patel (SCR) by forfeit. Y. Patel (SCR) by forfeit;\u00a0Doubles:\u00a0N. Patel-R. Patel (SCR) over Bell-Marchain, 4-6, 6-3, 10-3(tiebreaker). Kaub-Y. Patel (SCR) over Horsford-Mann, 6-3, 6-4; Records:\u00a0SCR 2-3, WAL 0-3.<\/p>\n
Holy Cross 4, Mid Valley 1:\u00a0Alex Harrison, Ray Zhang and Alfred Betts won their singles matches in straight sets as the Crusaders remained undefeated.<\/p>\n
Singles:\u00a0Harrison (HC) over Beck, 6-0, 6-0. Zhang (HC) over James, 6-0, 6-0. Betts (HC) over Johnson, 6-0, 6-1; Doubles:\u00a0Baniya-Gilroy (HC) over Johnson-Henderson, 4-6, 6-4, 12-6 (tiebreaker). Kalinowski-Schuler (MV) over Musto-McDonnell, 6-0, 6-1;\u00a0Records:\u00a0HC 5-0, MV 0-4.<\/p>\n
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