Colgan’s Matthew Staton claims double victory: a state singles title and seeing his sister graduate

Matthew Staton’s decisive 6-0, 6-2 win over Vincent Truong June 11 did more than allow the Colgan sophomore to claim his second straight Class 6 state boys singles title.

It also gave the 16-year-old enough time to see his older sister and only sibling Emily graduate from Colgan early in the afternoon.

When Staton took the court at 10 a.m. at Huntington Park in Newport News, he was strictly focused on the match.

But after defeating the W.T. Woodson senior in the hour-long final, Staton could still make the graduation ceremonies after they were pushed back twice due to the threat of rain. Colgan planned on holding graduation at its football stadium initially at 9 a.m. before it was delayed first to 11 a.m. and then finally to 1 p.m.

Once the match was over, he and Colgan tennis coach Jasen Viggiani hit the road to make the trip to Prince William County. Viggiani dropped Staton off at Colgan at 2:23 p.m. Still wearing his tennis uniform, he took his seat inside the stadium two names before Emily walked across the stage to accept her diploma.

“I’m glad I had a shot at making it," Staton said.

Emily knew her brother had won the state title when her mother texted her the news at 11:10 a.m. as she prepared to walk into the stadium. But as happy as Emily was for Staton’s win, she figured there was no way he’d be back in time to see her walk across the stage.

“At that moment I felt a rush of joy, but was sad to think that he was most likely going to miss my graduation,” said Emily, Colgan’s No. 1 girls singles player. “Little did I know he was going to make an appearance, quite literally in the nick of time.”

Emily found out Staton was in attendance through their mother. Karyn Staton called Emily to say Staton was looking for Emily down on the field after graduation ended.

“As soon as I knew he was there, I immediately started searching the massive crowd of people on the field for him,” said Emily, who will attend Virginia Tech in the fall. “And as soon as we met eyes, I ran to him and shared a warm embrace. I don't think I've had a happier moment, or a happier day for that matter.”

It helped, Viggiani noted, that Emily’s last name started with a letter later in the alphabet to give her brother extra time to arrive in case traffic caused any delays,

“But I am going the speed limit,” Viggiani said.

On Saturday, Staton showed no layoff from a year ago when he became the first Prince William County high school tennis player to win a state title since 1975 when Brentsville captured the Group A boys doubles title. Before Staton’s win in 2021, Brentsville’s Doug Laughin was the last individual to capture a singles state title when he accomplished the feat in 1973.

“He’s gotten a little bigger and stronger, but his style of preparation reminds me of a hockey goalie,” said Viggiani, who is stepping down as Colgan’s boys tennis coach. He began the program when the school opened in 2016. “Win or lose or how many shots they stop or goals they allow they do the same thing."

This year’s final four was different for Staton in that the weather cooperated. In 2021, rain forced Staton to play at three different tennis facilities over three days for doubles and singles.

Staton also automatically advanced to this year’s final after Chantilly’s Lucas Pak had to officially withdraw from their Friday semifinal match due to an injury. Staton learned of the withdrawal Thursday afternoon.

“I was sad to hear that,” Staton said. “He’s a great friend and had a great year.”

Staton still took everything in stride.

"I always tell myself I am so thankful to be here in Newport News," Staton said. "I know there were a lot of expectations for me, but I put it all behind me. My main goal is to compete."

Staton and Rebhi Villasmil Rodriquez faced Truong and Ansh Pathapadu June 10 in the state doubles final, where they lost 6-3, 3-6, 4-6. The Colgan duo were the state runner-up in 2021 as well.

Staton remains committed to returning to Colgan for his junior season and going for a third straight state title.

Only one other boys tennis player has won three state singles titles at the highest classification. That was Robinson’s Drew Courtney from 2006-08. Courtney went on to star at the University of Virginia, where he won the 2010 NCAA doubles championship before turning pro.

Salem’s Patrick O’Keefe is the only four-time state singles champion, winning his Group AA titles from 2008-11.

“So far I plan on coming back,” Staton said. "I love it at Colgan. It’s like my second home. There are so many people here who root for me.”