- April 24, 2026
Matanzas high School tennis player Daniel Patsula had already reserved his spot in the state championships. Now he will have his teammates joining him.
The Pirates won the Region 2-3A championship on Thursday, April 23, with a 4-1 victory on the road against district champ Ponte Vedra. With the victory, Matanzas advances to the Class 3A state team championships.
Patsula, who had already clinched a spot in the individual bracket with his district title at No. 1 singles, will now be competing for the state team championship with the rest of his squad as well.
“It’s great having company,” he said.
Matanzas won both doubles matches against Ponte Vedra to take a 2-0 lead. Patusula at No. 1 singles and Stanislav Velenteychik at No. 3 singles won their matches to clinch the title. The Pirates are undefeated in dual matches this season at 17-0. Patsula and Valenteychik are both undefeated in singles.
Patsula and Owen Brady won their No. 1 doubles match against the Sharks and Valenteychick and Adam Stochel Polubiec won at No. 2 doubles.
“They all played with a desire to win,” Matanzas coach Jens Oliva said.
It was the second time this season that Matanzas defeated Ponte Vedra — the Pirates also won 5-2 on March 25 .
But the Sharks won the district title at the Southern Recreation Center on April 16 in a tight three-way battle with Ponte Vedra winning with 14 points and Matanzas edging Nease for the runner-up spot 12-11. The Pirates had to go on the road to win their regional semifinal 4-0 against Fleming Island on Tuesday, April 21, and then defeating Ponte Vedra in the final.
I have so much confidence in my team. I saw the team playing against Fleming Island and I thought if we could transfer this against Ponte Vedra we’ll do great. And we did.
— STANISLAV VALENTEYCHIK, Matanzas senior
“I knew since Tuesday [we were going to win the region title],” Valenteychik said. “I have so much confidence in my team. I saw the team playing against Fleming Island and I thought if we could transfer this against Ponte Vedra we’ll do great. And we did.”
The Pirates are scheduled to play their first match at state at 8 a.m. Wednesday, April 29, at Sanlando Park in Altamonte Springs. The seedings will be based on Universal Tennis Rankings.
This is the third time Matanzas has advanced to the state championships as a team.
“We’re going to keep riding this wave as far as we can,” Oliva said. “There are some talented teams out there, and we’re looking forward to some good tennis.”
