For the third consecutive year, Chris Winterbauer, Trevor Fulp and Chris Bailey will represent Mercer Island boys tennis at the state tournament. But for the first time, the threesome will do it as defending champions and in Eastern Washington.

“Last year we tied with Seattle Prep and they are our toughest rival,” said Bailey. “It would be nice to go out with a bang. I want to end my senior year the best way possible.”

One way of doing that would be not only with a state title, but a singles title as well. Bailey came close to the district singles title last Wednesday, but lost in straight sets to Davis Mangham of Lakeside, 6-3, 6-0, during the championship final.

During his quarter-final match, following a first-round bye, Bailey not only had to match wits with his opponent but regroup after taking a long test that morning.

“I was mentally drained after my AP test,” said Bailey, who won the match 6-1, 6-1.

The semifinals pit Bailey against an old nemesis from Sammamish, Mike Kung. But Bailey was ready, taking the match in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. With the win, Bailey earned the No. 2 seed from districts.

Bailey has been here before, though, and he knows what lies ahead of him.

“I felt a lot more relaxed this time,” said Bailey. “I have the next four years planned and it is not the end of the world if I lost. I am playing to win. I am not playing to not lose.”

What he doesn’t know is how the trip to Eastern Washington will affect his play.

“It is unfortunate but fair,” said Bailey. “They came over here for the last three years, so I understand. I like the (University of Washington) courts. But we will see what happens.”

Doubles

The Mercer Island doubles team of Winterbauer and Fulp also earned a No. 2 seed to state. Surprisingly the tandem struggled during the quarterfinals, despite a first-round bye. But the 7-5, 6-4 victory over a Seattle Prep team was satisfying nonetheless. During the semifinals, the Islanders didn’t win in straight sets but had an easier time defeating their Newport opponents 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-1.

But it was — who else — a Seattle Prep team that kept the Islander boys from the districts title 6-1, 6-3.

One other Islander team, sophomore Matt Ellis and freshman Max Franklin, both received an education in “district tournament 101” and Seattle Prep rivalry 102. The duo began the meet with a first-round victory over a team from Eastside Catholic 6-3, 6-4, but lost to the eventual districts champions from Seattle Prep, 6-3, 6-1, during the semifinals. The team finished sixth at districts, taking an alternate spot to state. Franklin and Ellis lost during the fifth-sixth seed match to a different Seattle Prep team 6-4, 6-3.

Fulp and Winterbauer will have one last shot at the doubles and singles state titles that they have worked for during the past three seasons as they travel with Bailey to the Tri-Cities in Eastern Washington on Friday and Saturday.