WESTPORT–Noah Richer, a rising star in junior tennis circles, won the New England Junior Tennis Championship in the boys 16-and-under division at the Junior Sectionals event. He is a rising sophomore at Greens Farms Academy.

Richer is considered a “five-star” tennis recruit; he is the #2 prospect in Connecticut and #45 prospect nationally, per TennisRecruiting.net.

For junior tennis players from New England, this tournament is a big event; 256 players spanning four age divisions competed over four days. 

Held across Massachusetts at Babson College, Brandeis University, Roxbury Latin, Longfellow Wellesley and Milton Academy, these schools represent a major opportunity for these players. But this is not Richer’s first time competing in the event – this year marked redemption.

At the 2023 event, Richer played in the 14-and-under division, winning four matches but coming up just short and finishing second in the division. 

Dramatic Semi-final match

Richer was the top-ranked player in his division. In the semi-final match he faced the Maine High School Individual State Champion, Matthew Morneault. In a grueling back-and-forth affair, the two played a match that lasted nearly four hours and was suspended due to excessive heat, with Richer up 5-4 in the third set. The play resumed and Richer won the final game. The final score was 7-6 (7-2), 1-6, 6-4. 

In the finals on Tuesday, Richer faced the third-ranked Jacob Pletka, who had not lost a set all day. – yet to lose a set on the day. Pletka faced his first set defeat in the finals, however, as Richer dispatched him in straight sets 6-2, 6-0 to capture his first championship ever at the tournament. 

Next up for Richer, after a well-deserved celebration? July’s Battle of the Sections, to which he has earned an automatic invitation.