WEXFORD — Will Nesbitt was the defending WPIAL Class AAA boys singles tennis champion.

Yet the Butler senior was just the fourth seed heading into this year’s tournament at North Allegheny High School.

No matter. Nesbitt dominated Vivek Nimgaonkar of Shady Side Academy to defend his singles title with a 6-2, 6-4 win at North Allegheny High School Friday afternoon.

“I wasn’t playing as well as those guys,” Nesbitt said. “They were all playing well.”

Nesbitt lost his bid for a Section 2-AAA title when he fell to Kevin Goth of North Allegheny. That, more than anything else, hurt his seed for the WPIAL tournament.

“I kind of tanked it,” Nesbitt said. “That basically made me the underdog. I basically needed to focus and be a little more aggressive.”

The section loss was an eye-opener for Nesbitt. He beat No. 1 seed Adam Blasinski of Central Catholic decisively, 7-5, 6-4, in the semifinals and took care of Nimgaonkar, the No. 2 seed, with relative ease in the final Friday.

Nesbitt led 5-1 in the second set before Nimgaonkar made a slight rally, but Nesbitt closed him out to become a repeat champion.

“It’s just great,” Nesbitt said. “I love the WPIAL tournament. I was making great shots and getting a little lucky, too.”

Now, Nesbitt will try to bounce back from last year’s disappointing showing at the PIAA Boys Singles Tennis Championship.

Nesbitt lost in the first round last season.

“It wasn’t even close,” Nesbitt said. “I just wasn’t mentally prepared for it. I wasn’t ready.”

Nesbitt is vowing to be ready this time around. The state tennis tournament will be held May 15 in Hershey.

“I’m going to try to hit with a bunch of people to get ready,” Nesbitt said.

The state tournament will take on added importance for Nesbitt. It will be his last tennis tournament.

Nesbitt will attend Lock Haven University in the fall, but will not be a member of the school’s tennis team.

“Tennis has always been a big part of my life,” Nesbitt said. “I’m going to be a biology major, so I’m going to have my hands full there.”