The Bulldog led 3-0 but Loyalsock’s Evan Anderson was doing everything he could to stay in the match and won three in a row to make the deficit, 4-3, in the first set.

In that moment, things could have shifted away from Fink and Anderson could have rode that momentum to a possible win. But Fink didn’t let anything like that happen. Fink stayed focused and kept playing tennis the way he knows how.

“I just try not to show it (frustration) and put it away and move onto the next point,” Fink said of staying composed. “I just focus one point at a time, one game at a time and not to look too deep into the set.”

That mindset helped Fink make history.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink competes against Loyalsock's Evan Anderson in the final round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

After winning three straight games to make it a 4-3 deficit in the first set, Anderson of the Lancers would only earn one more win the rest of the day as Fink beat the Lancer 6-3, 6-1 to win the District 4 boys singles tennis championship at the Central PA Tennis Center on Thursday afternoon.

The win proved historic as well, giving Jersey Shore it’s only ever boys tennis singles champion in program history. Fink also became just the second Shore boys singles player this century to reach the final.

The win over Anderson secured a state tournament appearance for Fink as only the district champion advances to states.

“It means a lot. It was a goal I set a year ago from now and I can’t believe it came true and I achieved it,” Fink said. “I told myself going into this I would go for every ball. I really did. I didn’t get all of them but I definitely got most.”

Fink dug in after Anderson rallied in the first set to make it a 4-3 game and came away with two key victories late in that set.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink competes against Loyalsock's Evan Anderson in the final round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

The final pinned two unfamiliar opponents against each other as well as neither player had faced each other previously.

“He’s so athletic too and he’s so consistent. I never played him before so it was definitely like a wild card match,” Fink said. “I didn’t know what to expect going into it.”

Anderson led 1-0 in the second set but Fink would close the match out by winning six consecutive games from there.

“He’s a super athletic guy so part of me wants to go for offense, but with offense he can counter it and then, ironically, it makes me play defense,” Anderson said. “Say I go for a backhand shot, maybe he lobs me and now I’m playing defense. So I think at one point in the match I was figuring out if I want to match his play style or up him and play high risk, high reward. Go for a powerful shot to get the point, but most likely not.”

Anderson did his best to keep up with Fink and had numerous outstanding returns that would normally be tough to return. But Fink’s athleticism allowed him to get to numerous balls and the Bulldog was seen sliding and doing splits to get those shots.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore coach Seth Hensler meets with Ryder Fink at the end of the semifinal round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

So was it frustrating for Anderson constantly seeing Fink answer his shots?

“That’s a ‘is the grass green’ type of question. It’s extremely frustrating,” Anderson said with a laugh. “As soon as you’re winding up, you’re like ‘OK I’m gonna hit that back corner.’ You hit it and then boom, it’s coming right back at you. So the point’s not over until it’s over.

“So what happens a lot of times is you hit a great shot, but he gets it back. If you couldn’t (finish point) because he’d get there, it kind of starts to mess with your mental state.”

Anderson and Fink both did well reading one another’s game. Neither got put out of position too much, but when one did, the other capitalized.

The duo also used their athleticism to their advantage with hard shots and quick base-line running side to side to return shot after shot.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Colby Peters and Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink walk off the court after the semifinal round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

The first set went roughly 70 minutes and saw multiple games where the duo had 35 or more returns back and forth. When Fink led 4-0, Anderson won a point after 76 consecutive returns. He would later win another point after a string of 57 returns.

In those marathon-type games, Anderson would try to quickly turn on the speed, charging and trying to get hard shots out of Fink’s reach either near the net or near the sides. Sometimes it would work and Anderson would get a point, but it seemed Fink would often answer right back and not let momentum slip away from him.

“A lot of practice,” Fink said of his reaction time. “My teammates would come up to the net, I worked on passing shots and lobs. I think that really helped.”

The wins throughout the District 4 singles tournament has Fink sitting at 18-0 as he enters the state tournament.

“Just play my best,” Fink said as to his expectations at the next tournament.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink competes against Loyalsock's Colby Peters in the semifinal round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

Fink picked up a 6-0, 6-0 win over Loyalsock’s Colby Peters in the semifinals earlier in the afternoon. And while Fink won in straight sets, Peters was able to play well but just wasn’t able to earn a win in any game against Fink, but did win points throughout.

“I think just staying consistent. I just did what I know I do best,” Fink said as to the key to beating Peters. “I didn’t give up on any balls, I went for everything.”

In the other semifinal, Anderson was matched up against Montoursville’s Teli Bobotas. Anderson secured a 6-1, 6-2 win over the Warrior to secure his spot in the district final.

“I wanted to come out strong with intimidation. We’re both nervous going in. I knew if I went in strong playing that high risk, high reward, he’d crumble before I would,” Anderson said. “As soon as he crumbles, he starts to get nervous. ‘Oh I double faulted’ and stuff. So I just try to take advantage of it, but he’s a great guy too.”

While he didn’t win district gold, Anderson noted he was still more than happy with how this season went and reaching the district final.

“It was a lot of fun. You get to meet a lot of people. The tennis community is amazing,” Anderson said. “It creates a different type of environment. It’s just you and your opponent. You can kind of bond easier compared to a team sport.”

DISTRICT 4 SINGLES TOURNAMENT

SEMIFINALS

Jersey Shore’s Ryder Fink def. Loyalscok’s Colby Peters, 6-0, 6-0; Loyalsock’s Evan Anderson def. Montoursville’s Teli Bobotas, 6-1, 6-2.

FINALS

Jersey Shore’s Ryder Fink def. Loyalscok’s Evan Anderson, 6-3, 6-1.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink competes against Loyalsock's Colby Peters in the semifinal round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink competes against Loyalsock's Colby Peters in the semifinal round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.

RALPH WILSON/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Loyalsock's Evan Anderson competes against Jersey Shore's Ryder Fink in the final round of PIAA District 4 Class AA boys tennis singles at the Central PA Tennis Club in South Williamsport on Thursday, May 8, 2025.