Ask head coach Doug Stone what makes the boys’ tennis team special, and it may be surprising to hear that it isn’t their current undefeated, 4-0 record.

Maybe it’s the team’s immense dedication to tennis? Close, but not quite there.

It’s the boys’ impeccable chemistry — both on and off the court — that makes the team unlike any other.

“We’re all like a little family. We’re all best friends, and we all support each other,” junior Kieran Kilgo said.

The camaraderie was evident on Tuesday, March 6, when boys’ tennis overwhelmed Hillsdale High School 7-0 to win their home opener.

From the start, the Panthers already had the advantage, with a crowd of teammates, parents, and students cheering on the sidelines. First, senior Spencer Phonsombat and junior Eddie Bracy won their No. 2 doubles match 6-0, 6-0 — a double bagel. Then, freshman Kaden Lam won his No. 2 singles match 6-1, 6-2. Next, after junior Alex Bozinovic clinched the first set 7-5, he quickly finished the second set of his No. 1 singles 6-2, putting Burlingame at a 3-0 head-start.

Burlingame soon secured an early 5-0 victory after sweeping all three doubles and winning two of four singles matches. Despite this, almost the entire team stayed an extra hour, enduring the cold weather and harsh winds to cheer on the remaining two matches.

Sophomore Caleb Chou ultimately closed out his No. 4 singles match with his steady groundstrokes, coming back from a first-set deficit to win 4-6, 6-1, 10-8. Senior Nick Moshkovoy also emerged victorious in his grueling, two-hour, 7-5, 6-7, 12-10 No. 3 singles match, giving the team a rewarding 7-0 win over Hillsdale.

“We won those matches by two points… overall, we executed, and I’ll give the team a lot of credit because no win is easy,” Stone said. “When you get into a tie-break situation like that, even a lesser player can take a match because every point is critical.”

While tennis itself is an individual sport, for the boys, each victory is earned together as a team. Throughout the match, the constant clapping and screams of “Let’s go Boz” and “Nice shot Nick” could be heard even four courts away. For Lam, who is familiar with the fierce competition in tennis tournaments, the support from teammates is refreshing.

“It’s a lot more team-based,” Lam said. “I like it because I got guys supporting my back, and I’m not just out there fighting by myself.”

However, it isn’t just the victory against the Knights that’s impressive, but rather the leaps and bounds of improvement the boys have made in just a year. Last season, the Panthers ended league play with a disappointing 4-10 record, losing almost all of their critical 10-point tiebreakers played in lieu of the third set.

This year, the team has bolted to a 4-0 record, upsetting top teams like San Mateo High School 5-2 and Carlmont High School 4-3.

“We have a stronger lineup this year,” Kilgo said. “We’ve all played over the summer, we’ve all gotten better, and we’re all just ready to play overall. We’ve built up our team chemistry enough to where it’s easier to win.”

The Panthers will look to continue their winning streak against Aragon High School, last year’s Peninsula Athletic League champions, on Thursday, March 13. While the match will certainly be a challenge, the boys will do what they do best: support each other, no matter the odds.

“This team is really a team. They’ll tell you that [too], and it’s not just my words, we’ve chosen the word together,” Stone said.