At that point, Jersey Shore had just reached its second straight district semifinal after years of struggling to crack the field. Senior Ryder Fink was fresh off his second straight District 4 singles title, the first Bulldog to achieve that milestone. And the team was one win removed from an undefeated regular season, which they’d secure a day later.

From Hensler’s standpoint, his 2026 group was already the most accomplished within his tenure, perhaps among the most accomplished in program history. If the end of April marked the end of the season, that wouldn’t have changed. But it didn’t, and it wouldn’t for quite some time.

Cut to the present day, and the conversation has shifted. It’s no longer a matter of determining whether or not the 2026 season was the best in Jersey Shore history, but the best in all of District 4.

As a team, the Bulldogs went on to do something no other Shore squad had done through the 25-year history of the PIAA Boys Tennis Team Championships, defeating Central Columbia to earn its first District 4 Class AA team title and state bid. It then went on to win three more matches, breaching territory only one other District 4 team has.

Luke Sarge of Jersey Shore wait for the point to start as he and his team mate Abe Paulhamus (background) play against Pequea Valley at the Central Pa Tennis Center. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

In reaching the PIAA Class AA final, Jersey Shore became the second team from District 4 to be crowned a state finalist – the first in over 20 years. Danville was the other, doing so in 2003, and both programs finished as runners-up.

On the season, the Bulldogs won 23 matches in a row — 16 in shutout fashion — and added a Heartland-I title to their list of accolades, finishing 12-0 in league play.

At districts, it beat the two programs responsible for every District 4 Class AA team title through the 2020s in Lewisburg and Central Columbia. And at states, they defeated the champion of one of the state’s deepest districts in District 7’s Quaker Valley, as well as two frontrunners from District 3 — another deep district.

“This is just our peak team,” said Shore doubles player Dillon Harsanyi following the team’s semifinal win over Lewisburg. “We have everyone together, everything sorted out. We know where we’re going, what we’re doing. And we know we’re going farther than any Shore boys team in history right now.”

Singles wise, the team rarely had issues picking up three points, with Fink, sophomore Ezra Paulhamus and junior Saul Hensler dropping two combined games through the regular season and one through postseason. And though doubles took some time to develop, they had found their footing by the time postseason rolled around.

PHOTO PROVIDED Jersey Shore’s Ryder Fink poses with his medal after reaching the podium at the PIAA Class AA tennis singles tournament. Fink finished in third place.

“They’re just strong mental players. They dig deep,” said Hensler on his singles players after the team’s district quarterfinal win over Selinsgrove. They don’t let the score get them down if they’re in a hole. And their dedication; all of them play year-round and have put in a lot of time and effort to get where they are today.”

No. 1 doubles duo Abram Paulhamus and Luke Sarge picked up multiple crucial wins at states, rallying back in the team’s first-round matchup against Pequea Valley and helping the Bulldogs reach the semifinals in a tight match against Quaker Valley. And at districts, a doubles sweep helped win a tight match against Lewisburg, with Harsanyi and Dylan Hensler winning a tight, three-set match to clinch.

“It just again shows the depth of our team,” said Hensler when discussing the team’s success following its PIAA win over Pequea Valley. “A lot of teams have really good No. 1s and taper off. So today, they’ve just proven to me and the other team that we’re strong top to bottom.”

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. On top of the depth Jersey Shore displayed throughout its dual season, it also showed that the talent at the forefront of that success was among the best in the state.

After defending his District 4 singles title, Fink went on to reach the PIAA semifinals before finally suffering the first loss to eventual state champion Max Henson, finishing as a bronze medalist in his closing run.

Ryder Fink of Jersey Shore returns a shot against Pequea Valley at the Central Pa Tennis Center. DAVE KENNEDY/For The Express

Through his last two seasons, the senior went 55-2, with his lone two losses coming at states, and became the first Bulldog in program history to take home back-to-back district titles. He’s been an obvious staple within the team’s rise of prominence and will be sorely missed as it looks to build off this year’s success.

“Our No.1, Ryder, is obviously very, very good,” said teammate Ezra Paulhamus following the team’s state quarterfinal over Quaker Valley. “I have faith that he would win any match.”

And in postseason doubles, the Bulldogs also etched themselves within program history.

Ezra Paulhamus and Saul Hensler took home the program’s first District 4 doubles title since 1985 and took things a step further at states, picking up a PIAA win before falling in quarters. Available results only extend as far back as 1971, but they’re the first Shore duo that’s picked up a state victory in over 50 years.

Historically, Shore is one of two teams from District 4 Class AA to sweep the singles, doubles and team district titles, with Lewisburg doing so in 2024 It’s hard to compare it to past teams due to the relatively recent installation of PIAA team tournaments, but the Bulldogs certainly have an argument for the best season in District 4 history.

RALPH WILSON/For The Express Jersey Shore’s Saul Hensler and Ezra Paulhamus compete against Lewisburg’s Canyon Swartzentruber and Henry Heintzelman during the District 4 boys doubles finals at the Central PA Tennis Center in South Williamsport. Hensler and Paulhamus won district gold in doubles competition to highlight Shore’s outstanding year, which saw Ryder Fink win the district singles tournament and medal st states and the team win the district team tournament and reach the state final.

And with Fink being the lone starter parting ways with the program, who knows what heights are in store for this program in 2027?

Obviously, that void will be notable and not easily filled, and Jersey Shore has set the bar tremendously high when it comes to building upward. But considering the growth that took place through the previous offseason, I’d say the sky is the limit.

“We’re only losing one starter, so should be just as good next year as we were this year,” said Abram Paulhamus.

“We’re losing our best player. (Ryder) was kind of a guaranteed win for us. So, it’ll be tough, but I think we can do just as well,” emphasized Ezra Paulhamus.

Henry Huber is the sports editor at The Express. He can be reached at hhuber@lockhaven.com. Follow him on Twitter at @HenryHuber_.

ASHTON PETERS/FOR THE EXPRESS Local firefighters work on the scene of a reported structure fire at UPMC Lock Haven’s Emergency Room and Outpatient Center on Tuesday evening. The emergency room was closed overnight while the building was assessed and reopened on Wednesday morning.