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Zach Disch’s exit from the 2013 state singles tournament was swift. Disch, then a junior, lost to Cony’s Dallas Clark in the qualifying round. Disch worked on his game, and this season it showed.

Disch, the top singles player on the Waterville Senior High School boys tennis team, was undefeated for the Purple Panthers. In the singles tournament, Disch advanced to the round of 16.

“He was at a new level of play,” Waterville boys tennis coach Sandor Nagy said.

Coming off a strong senior season, Disch is the Morning Sentinel Boys Tennis Player of the Year. Sullivan Abbott of Mt. Blue also was considered.

Disch’s improvement came the time tested way.

“I was playing a lot,” Disch said.

Nagy said Disch played a more patient game this season. Rather than try to end a point quickly, and sometimes make a mistake in the process, Disch was happy to allow the rally to progress. He improved in using the entire court, and Nagy saw Disch better at moving side to side.

“He waited out his opponent,” Nagy said. “He forced his opponent to make the mistake.”

Disch saw improvement in his serve.

“I was putting more on my serve,” Disch, who also played soccer and ice hockey, said. “The big thing was consistency. Just keeping the ball on the court and making guys run around.”

Getting through the season undefeated at number one singles in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B division wasn’t easy. Nagy recalled tough matches Disch had with Oceanside, Camden Hills, Maranacook and Morse.

Disch’s run in the singles tournament ended with a loss to Falmouth’s Brendon McCarthy, the eventual state champion. Before that, Disch won a tough three set match over Monmouth’s Kasey Smith, 3-6, 6-3,6-3.

“He did his best, and it was nice he won that match in three sets,” Nagy said.

As the Panthers’ top player, Disch said he tried to keep his teamates upbeat amid a number of close losses.

“I tried to get everybody to keep their heads up,” Disch said.

Added Nagy: “He was well-respected. Everybody knew he was our number one. He was unchallangeable.”

Disch hopes to continue his tennis career at the University of Southern Maine.

“That’s where I want to be to improve my game,” Disch said.

Whether or not he plays tennis in college, Disch said the game will continue to be a part of his life.

“It’s a lifelong sport,” Disch said. “You can play as long as you want.”

Travis Lazarczyk — 861-9242

[email protected]

Twitter: @TLazarczykMTM