Brandon Payne and Matthew Richards are taking Sequim tennis to the 2A state finals.

The Wolves’ No. 1 doubles team went 4-1 at districts at the Bremerton Tennis Club on Nov. 1-2 and Nov. 4. They’ll hone their skills the next two sport seasons while they wait to take the fourth seed to the Washington state 2A WIAA tennis finals this spring.

“I am very proud of the way they played,” said coach Justine Wagner. “I got constant compliments on their footwork, net game, but most importantly their sportsmanship toward their opponents and the way they treat one another.”

In the first round, the Sequim duo defeated Jacob Nemeth and Darren Towne of the Olympic Trojans 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, but lost in the next round 6-3, 6-1 to Brandon Walsh and Nathan Santo Domingo of Sumner, who took fifth in the tournament.

Sent to the consolation bracket, Payne and Richards excelled. They defeated Lindbergh’s Donovan Dang and Patrick Tiamzon 6-3, 6-4, followed by Jacob and Ryan Gotchall of Klahowya 6-1, 7-6 (7-4).

In the consolation finals for fourth and sixth, Sequim’s duo beat Lindbergh’s Peter Vu and Justin Danao 6-4, 6-4 on Monday, Nov. 4.

Payne, a senior, and Richards, a sophomore, make the first trip to state for Sequim boys tennis since the 2010-2011 season. The Wolves finished the season 4-3 in league and 6-6 overall.

Wagner said the season didn’t go as well as she had hoped in the standings but she saw vast improvement by several players.

“I’m looking forward to next season working with many of the same players and trying out some different doubles and singles dynamics throughout the season in preparation for league,” she said.

“Overall I was proud of the way the Sequim boys played and conducted themselves over the season.

Can’t wait for the next one. Go Wolves!”