Los Alamos boys tennis wins first district title since 2018

Los Alamos High School boys tennis turned a dominant district weekend into something bigger, shutting out defending champion Santa Fe Prep 5-0 in the final to capture the 2026 District Championship and end an eight-year title drought.

The Toppers reached the final by beating St. Michael’s 6-0 in the semifinals, then carried that momentum straight into the championship round against the team that had beaten them in the 2024 district final. The result marked Los Alamos’ first district crown since 2018 and gave the program a clear reversal of the previous two seasons, when it finished second in district play.

What made the title run stand out was how thoroughly Los Alamos controlled the bracket before it ever reached the final. In the group-stage weekend in Taos, the Toppers beat Española Valley 9-0 and Taos 9-0, and did it without dropping a set. That kind of clean sweep is more than a strong score line; it showed a roster peaking at the right time and gave the district final the feel of a team that had already separated itself from the field.

The championship photo reflected that depth rather than any one-player storyline. Coaches Travis Gibson, Timur Khazratkulov and Hari Viswanathan were joined by players Zach Gibson, Cullen McLean, Logan Swickley, Luke Gibson, Mike Witkowski, Levi Gibson and Aditya Viswanathan, a lineup that underscored how much of the season was built on a full program rather than a single standout. That matters in a sport where depth often decides whether a team can survive the pressure of district and state play.

Los Alamos’ rise has not happened overnight. A 2025 season wrap-up said the coaching staff had rebuilt the program from the ground up and expanded it to 21 girls and 27 boys, after a time when there were not enough players to form a full girls team. Earlier this spring, the Toppers also finished runner-up at the Academy Invite, then followed with the Taos sweep and the district title run, suggesting a program that has moved beyond rebuilding and into sustained contention.

The postseason now shifts quickly. The New Mexico Activities Association’s 2026 tennis calendar lists the regular season ending April 25, district singles and doubles entries due April 28, and the state tennis championships set for May 6-9. For Los Alamos, the district title does more than add hardware. It changes the tone of the bracket, puts Santa Fe Prep behind it, and sends the Toppers into the individual tournament in Taos with proof they can beat the standard-setter in the district.