THE PROKOPIS TWINS, Jack and Luke, recently led the St. John’s Prep tennis team to their second consecutive perfect season and state championship. They will play for the Holy Cross tennis team next year. (Courtesy Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
DANVERS — It was a stellar senior year for the Prokopis twins this spring as the Lynnfield pair helped lead the St. John’s Prep boys’ tennis to their second-straight MIAA Division 1 state title.
For the second year in a row, the Eagles ran the table as they finished 22-0 capping if off with a 3-1 victory over Lexington in the state title match held at MIT in Cambridge last month.
Jack Prokopis played at second singles while Luke Prokopis was slotted in at first doubles.
Jack went 15-1 at second singles this year as he made the Catholic Conference All-Star team for the fourth-consecutive season. He was also named the league MVP.
Jack has played at second singles for three years.
“He is a three-year captain and has been an incredible one,” stated Eagles head coach Mark Metropolis. “He played very well under pressure and is a great role model.”
When asked to compare last year’s team, which also featured Lynnfield’s Mark McDuffee, and this year’s team, Jack feels that this year’s team was a little better.
“We had a similar roster from last year but I feel that this year’s team was better since all of us back were a year stronger,” said Jack. “We lost one of our doubles teams from last year and we lost our top singles players this year because of a back injury but we got a transfer (Rudr Malayya) who who is from Lexington that helped us.”
The Eagles also beat Lexington in the regular season, 3-2, as Malayya, who played first singles, beat his former team twice.
“Going into this year, we felt that we could repeat but we tried to tap into an underdog mentality,” said Jack.
Luke, who teamed with junior Boris Kouzminov, went 16-1 at first doubles this year. He also played a couple of singles matches and was 2-0.
“He went 65-7 in doubles in his career,” pointed out Metropolis. “In the past three years, he only lost three times. He is one of the top doubles players in the state.”
Luke was also a four-year Catholic Conference All-Star and he was a captain this year.
“He has great hands and a big serve,” added Metropolis.
Last summer, the twins, who turned 19 on June 8, committed to playing at Holy Cross like their older brother Mike.
Holy Cross is a Division 1 program that plays in the Patriot League.
“They should both be successful,” predicted Metropolis, who also coached Mike at St. John’s Prep. “They are the same level as Mike when he finished high school and he did well there.”
The Eagles have been one of the elite teams in the state as they have won the Catholic Conference crown for the seventh year in a row. They have now won the league title 31 of the past 35 years under Metropolis.
Before last year, the last time St. John’s Prep won the state title was back in 2001.