There’s a new provincial men’s tennis champion in town, and he’s just 12 years old.

Declan Walsh won the Tommy Williams Provincial Men’s Open Tennis Championship at Greenbelt Tennis Club this past weekend in St. John’s.

Walsh won the final sets 7-5, 4-6 and 14-12, defeating Josh Lehr, to become the youngest player ever to win the provincial championship. He’s also the reigning under-12 Atlantic tennis champion.

He says the whole thing hasn’t really sunk in for him yet.

Walsh says he’s still recovering from the championship, but it was like his own little ‘Miracle on Ice.’

The pre-teen went up against a former coach in the championship match. Going into it he was just looking to have some fun and enjoy the experience.

After he won the first two games, he started to gain some hope and believe in himself, and before he knew it, he ended up winning it all.

Along with his endless physical training and practices, Walsh has also done some mental training, which he says was one of the biggest keys to becoming the provincial champ.