Darrel Belvin surprised everyone, including his coach. The Decatur High School senior won the South Puget Sound League 3A tennis championship with a rugged three-set victory over Lakes’ Jordan Richardson in the title match, 0-6, 6-2, 6-4, at Clover Park High School. Belvin will now advance to the 3A West Central-Southwest District Tournament as the SPSL’s top seed. The district tournament will take place in May.

“It was a huge upset,” said Decatur head coach John Cassens. “Darrel does not look like a very conventional tennis player. He is kind of a self-taught player.”

Belvin’s teammate Abishek Murali will also play at the district tournament after finishing in third place at the SPSL 3A Tournament. Murali lost to Richardson in the semifinals, 6-0, 6-0, before winning the consolation final.

But the big story at the tournament was the play of Belvin. The senior, who is home schooled, entered the SPSL Tournament as the third seed behind Richardson and Murali.

“He is a very good kid,” Cassens said. “He is a healthy athlete who is having fun competing. He had a blast in winning this.”

The difference in the match came after Belvin was shutout in the first set, 6-0. That’s when Cassens was able to talk to Belvin and convey a strategy to beat the left-handed Richardson.

“I talked to him about how to return a lefty serve,” Cassens said. “I also gave him a couple tips on how to play the wind and that kind of stuff. He really frustrated the guy and he was missing volleys after that. He doesn’t have a classic tennis game. You would never know he was that strong by watching him, but he is a pain in the butt for people to play.”