Westside junior Troy Shefsky capped off an impressive tennis season by winning the No. 1 singles title at the Metro Conference Championships after a grueling 2-hour, 48-minute final at Koch Tennis Center.
Shefsky defeated Omaha Creighton Prep senior Alex Liu, who was competing in his third straight Metro final — all against a Shefsky brother. Troy’s older brother, AJ, won the title in 2023 before graduating from Westside and heading to the University of Arizona.
This time, it was Troy’s turn. After dropping the first set 4-6, Shefsky fought back to win the second 6-4 and led 3-2 in the third before the match ended by retirement.
“He’s a tough competitor,” Shefsky said about Liu. “He’s never going to give me anything easy.”
The match tested both players’ endurance. At one point, Liu suffered from leg cramps and was treated multiple times between sets. “When he broke me there, I thought it was over and then I realized, I’m already out here, might as well give him my all to go get it,” Shefsky said.
“I kind of knew we’d have to come down to a final sprint course, of course, and I was prepared for that,” Shefsky added. “I think I executed my plan really well?”
Reflecting on his overall season, Troy said, “I thought I played alright but know I could’ve done better. I made some mistakes I shouldn’t have, so I’m not fully happy with how I finished.”
“I focused on being more consistent and keeping my focus during long matches. I also worked on my serve a lot this season,” he added.
For Troy, playing for Westside means more than individual titles. “It means a lot to play for my school and compete the best I can. I just wish I could’ve gone a little further to help the team more,” he said.
Looking ahead to next season, Troy plans to continue improving. “I’m going to train more, lift, and play tournaments. I want to come back stronger and more confident for my senior year,” he said.
Off the court, Shefsky’s leadership has stood out just as much as his play. Westside senior and teammate Trey Quigley praised Shefsky’s impact on the team.
“I think Troy showed exemplary leadership within matches and practices,” Quigley Troy, being one of the best on the team, was always able to give valuable input regarding other players and made practice feel like more than a practice,”
With one year left at Westside, Shefsky isn’t done yet. “I’m trying to one-up my brother. It’s a little joke in the family,” he said.
After his Metro title, that goal seems well within reach.
