Oak Knoll’s varsity tennis program is serving up history after earning a share of the 2026 Union County championship at the Union County Tournament.

The title marked the 12th county championship in program history and the first since 2015. The team currently boasts an 11-2 record and, at one point, enjoyed a seven-match winning streak.

In addition, the Royals celebrated an individual flight championship, with Emilia Eckert ’29 and Eva Simcik ’30 capturing the county title at second doubles.

Varsity Tennis Coach Michael Romeo said the achievement was the culmination of weeks of hard work and dedication by Oak Knoll’s student-athletes.

“The road to the county championship started on the first day of tryouts, when the team showed real signs of being a cohesive unit,” Coach Romeo said. “They practiced hard, competed for every point, and that mindset has been consistent throughout the season.”

Romeo said the foundation for Eckert and Simcik’s second doubles championship was also established early, as they learned to “compete as a team, communicate and always have each other’s backs.”

Above all, Romeo said what stood out most was “the overwhelming support the team showed for each other.”

This support was on display when the team recently made shirts with the words “pressure is privilege,” a Billie Jean King quote that he said his athletes have thoroughly embraced.

“Going forward, the championship means a lot. It’s the first one in years, and it’s given the team confidence,” Romeo said. “We are looking forward to states, both individual and team, and will continue to compete together as a team.”

The Royals carried that momentum into state tournament competition Thursday, October 1, defeating Morristown-Beard, 5-0, in the first round of the NJSIAA Girls Tennis Non-Public, North Jersey Tournament.