Tennis Season Brings Back Fond Memories

This week marks the opening of the high school tennis season for the Fairfield Warde boys' and girls' teams. Obviously, James Blake is the one name which comes to mind when thinking about the great tennis players who have called our Melville Avenue high school campus home.

Blake, currently one of the top-ranked players in the world, played at Fairfield High School and was an all-FCIAC selection from 1994 through 1997. In fact, the Warde tennis courts were dedicated and named after Blake last year. His brother, Tom, was an all-FCIAC selection from 1992 through 1994.

Over a generation ago, however, classmate co-captain Andy Larsen was making a name for himself on the Fairfield County high school tennis courts. Larsen was named to the All-FCIAC squad all four years (1973 through 1976). Classmate and fellow co-captain Tom Knuth joined Larsen on the all-league team during our senior year at Andrew Warde.

Their state doubles championship was voted the most memorable athletic achievement during the 1975-76 school year in our recent online poll. Larsen and Knuth garnered 45% of the votes, well ahead of three other sports achievements. The baseball team's dramatic 4-2 come-from-behind victory over Ludlowe, the girls' basketball team's FCIAC championship, and Floyd Scholz new high jump record each received 18% of the votes. The poll was taken over a two-week period.

The boys' tennis team ended the 1976 season with an 8-5 record. Larsen and Knuth were aided a great deal by junior Larry Levine, who received the most valuable player award and finished with the most individual victories. Sophomore Paul Larsen and freshman Gary Khachian played very well throughout the year, too. The Crimson Eagles finished a very respectable third in the 1976 Connecticut Class LL tennis tournament.

Andy Larsen earned his third state tennis championship during our senior year. According to the Flame yearbook, it was "an achievement that will be hard to match for future Warde players. Andy Larsen and Tom Knuth have both finished sparkling careers as tennis players at Warde and will most likely continue playing in college. Warde should be proud of these two athletes."

Share your memories of Larsen, Knuth, and the tennis team in the "comments" section below.

Paul

Please sign the AWHS Class of 1976 Guest Book.

Visit the AWHS Class of 1976 Gift Shop.