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TennisFeature
Saint Andrew's tennis star Rafa Bote achieves rare state triple crown
TL;DR
Rafa Bote of Saint Andrew's won the state team title and achieved a rare triple crown in high school tennis by securing both the individual singles and doubles championships on May 1. He defeated Lorenzo Lopez in the finals and partnered with Colin Wheat for the doubles win.
Key points
- Rafa Bote won the state team title and individual championships.
- He achieved a rare triple crown in high school tennis.
- Bote defeated Lorenzo Lopez in the singles finals.
- He partnered with Colin Wheat to win the state doubles championship.
- Only two other players from Saint Andrew's have achieved this feat.
Sarah SnyderNico SnyderRafa BoteSaint Andrew's
One day after leading his team to the state team title, Saint Andrew’s junior first singles Rafa Bote kept on winning.
Bote added his second straight state 1A individual singles championships and his first state doubles crown to pull off high school tennis’ elusive triple crown on May 1 at Sylvan Lake Park in Sanford.
In the state finals Friday, Bote beat Miami County Day’s Lorenzo Lopez 6-1, 6-1. He also teamed up with Colin Wheat to win the state doubles championship.
That’s three titles after helping Saint Andrew’s squeak out a 4-3 boys team championship over rival True North of Miami.
Only two other Saint Andrew’s players have copped the triple crown - Sarah Snyder did it back-to-back in 2020-2021 and her brother Nico Snyder accomplished the triple treat in 2024.
More tennis: Saint Andrew's teams win state titles in dramatic fashion
“It’s pretty awesome in this division with the kids he beat," Saint Andrew’s coach Reid Rafter said. “He’s always been an incredible player and big ball striker, but he’s gotten stronger and more physical. His newfound power adds to his solid, nuanced game and you have an incredibly complete player.’’
In a space of 29 hours, Bote played six matches – a team semifinal (singles/doubles, a team final (singles/doubles), the individual singles final and individual doubles final.
Bote will probably have his pick of Division I programs. “He’s talking to some of the best tennis programs in the country right now," Rafter said.
Rafael Bote, Saint Andrew's tennis
On Thursday, the Scots girls and boys narrowly edged True North of Miami by identical 4-3 scores. True North girls was going for its fourth straight state title.
Q&A
What is the significance of Rafa Bote's triple crown achievement?
Rafa Bote's triple crown achievement is significant as it highlights his exceptional skill in high school tennis, making him only the third player from Saint Andrew's to accomplish this feat.
Who did Rafa Bote defeat in the state finals for the singles championship?
Rafa Bote defeated Lorenzo Lopez from Miami Country Day with a score of 6-1, 6-1 in the state finals.
Which other players from Saint Andrew's have achieved the triple crown?
Only two other players from Saint Andrew's, Sarah Snyder and her brother Nico Snyder, have achieved the triple crown, with Sarah doing it in 2020-2021 and Nico in 2024.
