The Pioneers of Western Reserve Academy ran into a buzzsaw on the courts Thursday afternoon, suffering their second loss of the season at the hands of a talented and well-prepared Orange High School team. Despite gritty performances and moments of determined play, the final result was a 5-0 defeat for WRA.

It was clear from the outset that Orange's lineup meant business. At No. 1 and No. 2 singles, juniors Roberts Sartor and Collin Si were met with relentless pressure from their Lion counterparts. Sartor, usually a rock at the top of the lineup, fought for every point but ultimately fell 6-1, 6-0. Si displayed similar tenacity, but his opponent matched him shot-for-shot and came away with a 6-1, 6-1 victory. The scorelines don't fully reflect the level of fight shown by the Pioneers' top two, who made their opponents earn every game.

Senior Arsh Goyal, holding down the No. 3 singles spot, delivered the highlight performance of the day for WRA. After dropping the first set 6-3, Goyal regrouped and took the second set into a tiebreaker. He pushed his opponent to the brink but ultimately came up just short, falling 6-3, 7-6 in a tightly contested match that showcased Goyal's grit and leadership.

In doubles play, WRA ran into more resistance. The No. 1 team of Keven Gong ('25) and Griffin Vaughn ('26) entered with confidence, having built a solid partnership this season. But Orange's top pair proved a class above on this day, losing the match 6-4, 6-3. The No. 2 duo of Sanam Mody ('26) and Govi Chadalavada ('27) struggled early, but steadied themselves in the second set to make things more competitive before falling 6-0, 6-4.