Mercer Island boys tennis coach Ryan Pang and fellow Islander Kerry Bucklin each had strong showings at the 125th Washington State Open, held July 28-Aug. 2 at Seattle Tennis Club.

Pang and Bucklin each claimed a top spot in both a singles and doubles event, with Pang winning the men’s 35 singles division and the mixed open doubles title with partner Petra Rampre. Bucklin emerged victorious in the men’s 50 singles bracket and won the men’s 50 doubles bracket with teammate John Foster.

Pang was the top-seeded competitor in the men’s 35 bracket, defeating second-seeded David Ebel in the final 6-1, 6-1. But in the mixed doubles bracket, the third-seeded duo of Pang and Rampre never got the opportunity to face their top-seeded opponents Gail Brodsky and Joel Kielbowicz in the final, as Brodsky and Kielbowicz were unable to perform in the title match.

“We might have won, we might not have won, but it would’ve been a good match,” said Pang, noting he’d made the men’s doubles final twice in the last decade but never won. “But it was a huge victory. I’ve been playing in the tournament for over 25 years and probably lost in the mixed doubles semis at least ten times if not more, so it was kind of a cool breakthrough to finally win at the Open.”

Bucklin was the top seed in the men’s 50 division and defeated third seed Mark Madson in the final 6-1, 6-1.

Also the top-seeded team in the men’s 50 doubles bracket, Bucklin and Foster defeated the second-seeded team of Larry Omlin and Earl Schultz 6-2, 6-1 to win the title.

Ryan Pang goes in for the backhand during singles competition at the 125th Washington State Open (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Witz Photography).