Sandow competes in District 6 Class 3A boys single tennis finals

ALTOONA — Mark Sandow made his second straight trip to the District 6 Class 3A boys single tennis finals on Wednesday, April 24.

Next year, the State High junior won’t have to contend with Central Mountain’s David Lindsay, as he attempts to win his first district gold medal.

Sandow fell to Lindsay, 6-0, 6-0, in the championship match at the Herb Faris Tennis Courts at Mansion Park for the second consecutive season.

With the victory, Lindsay became a four-time district champion, the first in District 6 since 1996. Lindsay was the PIAA champion in 2022 and the runner-up last season.

He’s going to play college tennis for Penn State.

“Mark’s match with David was a tough one,” Little Lion coach Jane Borden said. “David is an exceptional player. Mark played well but just couldn’t convert the few game points he had.”

Sandow made it to the finals by taking the measure of Hollidaysburg’s Ben Johnson, 6-3, 6-2, in the semifinals on Tuesday, April 23.

That came after a 6-2, 6-3 win against Altoona’s Josh Adams in the quarters. Sandow, the second seed behind Lindsay, beat Central Mountain’s Landon Mazur, 6-2, 6-0, in his opening match.

Johnson was the third seed.

“Mark won three tough matches to get into the finals and he should be happy with his accomplishments in district singles the last two years.”

In fact, the only games Lindsay lost in the tournament were against State College’s other entrant, Will Liu.

In the quarterfinals, Liu took two games in the first set and won another in the second before bowing out.

Liu blanked Mifflin County’s Quin Miller in the opening round.

“I’m really proud of both William and Mark for their approach, poise and effort during their matches,” Borden said.

Presumably, Liu and Sandow will compete as a team in the first week of May’s district doubles tournament, which was held after the Gazette’s press deadline.

State College will compete for the D6 team championship in the second week of May. The Little Lions are unbeaten in dual matches this season.