FARGO — Arnav Panwalkar post-match yell hit a decibel level similar to other important points in his East Region boys tennis singles championship match on Saturday.
Inside Courts Plus in south Fargo, the Fargo North junior’s voice and his game carried him to a 6-4, 6-4 win over senior Thor Cameron of Fargo Davies.
The emotion Panwalkar displayed is seeing the results of his efforts.
“He’s worked so hard for all these years to get this point and to actually get there and get it done, I think it felt so good, such a relief and he deserves it,” said Spartans head coach Steve Saville. “He put all the work in and deserves everything he’s got.”
Panwalkar and Cameron have been close friends since the sixth grade, the Spartans standout said. Both attended a three-week tennis camp in Florida this past year.
Thor Cameron of Fargo Davies, right, congratulates Fargo North’s Arnav Panwalkar after their East Region singles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
“This is a goal I had in mind since the end of last year,” Panwalkar said of his East Region title. “I worked so hard this year.”
In a mostly baseline game from both players, the pairing has played about 10 previous matches, Saville said.
“I don’t like it when it gets super tight and I have to yell,” Panwalkar said, “but it gets me going in the match.”
Panwalkar fought back after Cameron got off to a quick lead in the first set. In the second set, Cameron held serve to make it a 5-4 deficit, but Panwalkar’s serve in the final game helped him grab a quick 40-love lead and a missed return by Cameron ended it.
Fargo North’s Arnav Panwalkar returns a shot in the East Region singles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
A lefty, Panwalkar had lost eight games in the East Region tournament coming into the final and Cameron said Panwalkar played a smarter match than he did.
“I got a little tight when I was up,” Cameron said. “I just couldn’t close out my momentum. He just kind of snuck back in the game and I couldn’t stop him. He got a ton of momentum in that first set and he won it.”
Panwalkar now eyes the state tournament, which is slated for Grand Forks on Friday and Saturday, knowing Mandan’s Jared Christen could likely be in his way. Christen won the West Region singles tournament, beating Legacy’s Connor Svihovec 6-0, 6-3.
North hasn’t had an individual state champion since Jan Oermann in 1998.
“The goal is to go get it all,” Panwalkar said.
Grand Forks Red River’s Max Mecham returns a shot near the net in the East Region doubles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
In the doubles championship match, Grand Forks Red River’s Gabe Schauer and Max Mecham closed out Grand Forks Central’s Henning Gibbs and Charlie Miedema 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Mecham used a strong net game, often pounding winning overheads up front. Mecham said knowing they had already qualified for state on Friday allowed the duo to play loose and have fun. It has worked so far this season losing just two doubles matches, Mecham said.
“I love being at the net,” Mecham said. “It’s not always my strong suit — I’m not the biggest guy, so big ones coming at me are tough sometimes, but I’ve just adapted to it as time has gone on and just learned to be good up there.”
Charlie Miedema of Grand Forks Central goes up for a return in the East Region doubles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
The two have been best friends since the beginning of their school years.
“We work really well together,” Schauer said. “We are like in each other’s heads. Like before one makes a move, the other already knows it. Before Max makes a poach at the net, I already know he’s going to do it.”
Teammates of Fargo North’s Arnav Panwalkar, center, rush to congratulate him after the East Region singles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
Grand Forks Red River’s Gabe Schauer returns a shot in the East Region doubles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum
Henning Gibbs of Grand Forks Central returns a shot in the East Region doubles championship match on Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026, at Courts Plus in Fargo.
Rob Beer / The Forum