Richmond must wait until 2024 for another opportunity to produce a boys state singles tennis champion.

Felix De Hesselle, a German exchange student, represented the Spartans at Class 1 state singles competition, held May 19-20 at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield. He fell 2-0 to Clayton’s Spencer Pompian in the round of 16 of the single-elimination

tournament. Pompian was then swept in the quarterfinals by Thomas Griese of Duchesne, a St. Charles-based private school.

De Hesselle was the Class 1 District 15 singles champion, with Trenton’s Isaac Dixon as the runner-up. He swept Excelsior Springs’ Carter Pitts in the round after districts to advance to Springfield.