There are dynasties and there are dynasties.

Allderdice High School has won virtually every City League boys' team tennis championship over the past quarter-century or so.

The Dragons won the title again this season, but Allderdice coach Keith Goldman wants people to know that doesn't mean the players simply open up a can of balls, roll them out on the court and have someone declare them winners.

"We're always hoping to keep the winning tradition going," Goldman said. "And that's done with hard workers."

Goldman applauded the dedication his team showed en route to sweeping all of its City League matches.

Allderdice also proved it isn't just a City League power by going 4-1 in the regular season against teams from the WPIAL -- two of which made the WPIAL playoffs.

"I'd say the entire team did really well," Goldman said. "We had people who stepped it up. We had to replace three starters, so we didn't know exactly how we'd do this year. But I knew right from the first practice we had a special team of hard workers who don't complain about anything expected of them."

The Dragons' season ended Tuesday with a 4-1 loss to WPIAL champion Upper St. Clair in the first round of the PIAA Class AAA tournament.

But that won't end the PIAA championship aspirations for three Allderdice players. Sophomore Max Schmerin won the City League singles championship last week and will play in the PIAA Class AAA singles tournament next weekend at the Hershey Racquet Club.

Also headed to Hershey is the doubles team of Arjun Iyengar and Henry Netzer, who won the City League doubles crown. Iyengar and Netzer, both seniors, defeated teammates Jake Rubenstein and Gabe Furman, 6-3, 6-1, in the title match Friday at the Pittsburgh Indoor Tennis Club in East Liberty.

"I would say I expect them to do well at PIAAs," Goldman said. "They're very consistent."

Also with a chance to advance in Hershey is Schmerin, who had beaten Iyengar, 6-0, 6-2, at Schenley Park on May 6 for the City League singles title.

"Hopefully I will get a good draw and win a few matches," said Schmerin, who trains at the Club 4 Life in Monroeville. "I have been training the past few weeks, getting back in shape, working on my technique again."

Schmerin said he played constantly during his junior high days, building up his USTA rankings. But he backed away from the sport once he entered high school, only concentrating on high school tennis and not playing it nearly as much in the offseason.

"I got burned out," Schmerin said. "But I'm realizing I want to play again and get better. I enjoy competing again."

"He's a very good player," Goldman said. "He hits a lot on his own, he hits with college kids, gets lessons. He does what needs to be done to be a complete player."

Rubenstein, a senior, and Furman, a junior, played second doubles in the Allderdice team lineup. The duo was seeded sixth at the City League doubles tournament but pulled off a couple upsets -- including one of Brashear's top team -- to reach the final.

The Dragons' first doubles team was junior Chris Morris and freshman Shane Fischbach. They advanced to the City League doubles tournament semifinals before losing to Iyengar and Netzer.