Never underestimate the power of sibling rivalries.

But what may have been Jack Muriaka’s true motivation was simply keeping it in the family.

On Saturday afternoon at Cedar Crest High School, Muriaka captured the Flight One singles crown at the 23rd annual Lebanon County Scholastic Tennis Championships. It marked the fourth time out of the last five years that a Falcon named Muriaka earned the title of ‘Lebanon County’s top high school tennis player’.

In the championship match, Muriaka downed Ben Clary of Palmyra, 6-2, 6-2. Muriaka, who’s undefeated in the Lancaster-Lebanon League, had advanced to the final at Flight One singles with a 6-0, 6-2 besting of Elco’s Mason Bennetch.

Muriaka spotted Clary an early 2-1 edge in their match, then asserted himself by winning seven straight games. Muriaka had his service broken only once against Clary.

Muriaka’s title helped Cedar Crest to a repeat championship in the team competition.

Two years ago, Muriaka’s older brother Colin completed a run of three straight Lebanon County Flight One. For Jack, a sophomore, it was his first Flight One crown.

– Jeff Falk