Redwood Repeats: Defending MCAL Boys Tennis Champions Roll to Title

Redwood High’s boys tennis team rolled to a 6-1 win over Branson at Novato High, clinching its third straight MCAL pennant. The Giants capped a perfect regular season in MCAL play and stretched their league winning streak to 54 matches over three seasons.

Branson brought plenty of heat, but Redwood still found a way to dominate—even with several top players missing the lineup for junior tournaments. Marin County readers in San Rafael, Novato, Larkspur, Mill Valley, and San Anselmo might wonder how this program keeps thriving while staying grounded in academics and community.

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Redwood High Clinches 3rd Consecutive MCAL Pennant

Redwood’s 6-1 win over Branson at Novato High sealed the meet and put a spotlight on the Giants’ ongoing dominance. Coach Craig Flax, who calls himself the program’s “caretaker,” guides players who juggle intense training with tough schoolwork in Marin’s top districts—from Corte Madera to Ross and Sausalito.

The three-year unbeaten league run says a lot about Redwood’s depth and steady consistency. That’s become a trademark for this Larkspur-based team, and honestly, it’s not something you see every day in high school sports.

Redwood pulled this off without its top three players, who were away at junior tournaments. That gave Calado Fazal, last season’s NCS doubles champ with Julian Zhang, a shot at No. 1 singles. He stepped up and beat Griffin Cooper 6-0, 6-2 in under 45 minutes.

Fazal has anchored Redwood’s team matches this season and hasn’t lost yet. He keeps proving that Redwood develops athletes who can strike the ball and think their way through tough matches.

Other Redwood winners included Will Greenwald at No. 2 singles, Josh Friedman at No. 3, and Milo Mancel at No. 4. The doubles teams of Lukas Berger and Carter Smith at No. 3, and Olie Weston with Declan Gray at No. 1, also secured solid wins.

Friedman’s match lasted 1 hour and 45 minutes—a real grind against Branson freshman Chase Biggs that ended 6-3, 6-4. Weston and Gray wrapped up their doubles match 6-4, 6-1.

Standout Performances That Shaped the Night

Calado Fazal — No. 1 singles, 6-0, 6-2 in under 45 minutes; last season’s NCS doubles champ, still undefeated in team play.
Will Greenwald — No. 2 singles, steady leadership and reliable play.
Josh Friedman — No. 3 singles, battled for 1 hour 45 minutes for his win.
Milo Mancel — No. 4 singles, added depth to the lineup.
Lukas Berger / Carter Smith — No. 3 doubles, worked together for a key point.
Olie Weston / Declan Gray — No. 1 doubles, closed out with a confident 6-4, 6-1 victory.
Branson’s sole win — Cal Keenley and Zander Alpert took the No. 2 doubles match, giving Branson its only point.

Across the net, Branson coach Chrissie Costamagna tipped her cap to Redwood’s dominance. She pointed out that the North Coast Section (NCS) tournament still offers another shot at a big title for her team.

Branson’s players and fans—from San Anselmo to Sausalito—will look to the NCS as their chance to prove themselves, just like Redwood did this MCAL season.

Looking Ahead: NCS Tournament and Marin County’s Tennis Scene

The NCS tournaments kick off May 12. Suddenly, it’s playoff tennis—where endurance and depth can spark a title run.

Branson wants to hang onto its NCS Division II crown. Redwood? They’re hoping to stretch their program’s already impressive streak a bit further.

For tennis fans scattered across San Rafael, Novato, and Tiburon, these NCS events mean a lot. They’re a reminder of just how fierce the MCAL can get and how the rivalry between Redwood and Branson stirs up more than just bragging rights.

Honestly, that rivalry helps build up the whole region’s tennis pipeline. You see it from the courts in Fairfax and San Anselmo to the green courts tucked around Larkspur and Corte Madera.

With the postseason looming, Redwood’s coach Flax keeps his focus on developing talent. Marin’s known for tough academics and strong athletics, and he’s not letting up.

He and his assistants have shaped a program that holds up through player absences and still finds ways to win. Their efforts keep Marin’s tennis scene moving forward, echoing from Novato’s courts to Sausalito’s shoreline, and even out into the wider Bay Area.

Here is the source article for this story: Boys tennis: Defending MCAL champion Redwood rolls to crown

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