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Filippo Buffo has only been a Lumberjack for one year, but he will certainly leave his mark in the Bemidji High 歪歪漫画 boys tennis record books.

The BHS senior and Italian exchange student qualified for the Class AA individual state tournament after capturing the Section 8AA singles title last week.

Buffo鈥檚 section singles title is believed to be the first by a Bemidji player in at least 40 years.

鈥淚鈥檓 happy that we鈥檙e going to state, with the team, too,鈥� Buffo said Monday, prior to the Jacks鈥� first appearance in the team state tournament since 1973. Bemidji suffered a 7-0 loss to second-seeded Edina in Tuesday鈥檚 quarterfinal match . 鈥淲e鈥檙e going to try our best and see how it鈥檚 going to go.鈥�

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But Buffo isn鈥檛 the first Lumberjack to qualify for the singles state tournament.

Older brother Nic Buffo advanced to state in 2018 as section runner-up while also spending his senior year in Bemidji as an exchange student.

The Buffos have made themselves at home in Bemidji, specifically the home of the McNallan family. Both brothers have lived with the McNallans, who have hosted exchange students in Bemidji for a number of years.

鈥淚f it wasn鈥檛 for (Nic), I wasn鈥檛 going to come here,鈥� Filippo said. 鈥淚 like the family. 鈥� They feel like a second family for me.鈥�

Junior John McNallan and eighth-grader Jack McNallan are also members of the boys tennis team, but they鈥檝e been more than just teammates for the Buffos, who hail from Legnago, Italy.

鈥淲e鈥檙e basically like brothers honestly,鈥� John McNallan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e super close. I stay in the same room with (Filippo), so we basically do everything together. It鈥檒l be hard to see him leave, but it鈥檚 been fun to have him.鈥�

In a case of good timing, Nic Buffo returned to Bemidji this week to spend some time with his brother, whom he had not seen in about nine months. The elder Buffo now plays tennis at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e both great tennis players and good people,鈥� Jack McNallan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e about as close as brothers at this point.鈥�

Unbeaten season

Filippo Buffo is accustomed to playing on the clay courts of Italy, but he has taken well to the hardcourts of the U.S.

The Lumberjack entered the week unbeaten on American soil at 24-0 on the season.

鈥淚鈥檓 playing good tennis,鈥� Buffo said. 鈥淚鈥檓 having fun.鈥�

Buffo鈥檚 success has not altered his humility.

鈥淥ne of the things that鈥檚 so nice about him is, with all of his talent and hard work ethic, he鈥檚 a really humble kid and a really great team-focused player,鈥� head coach Kyle Fodness said. 鈥淗e never comes in thinking that his ability gives him special status on the team.鈥�

Buffo will open the 16-player state singles tournament by facing Orono鈥檚 Matias Maule, ranked No. 10 in Class AA, in the first round at 8 a.m. on Thursday, June 10, at Prior Lake High 歪歪漫画.

Win or lose, Buffo will have fans on both sides of the Atlantic cheering for him.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e always excited to see someone go to state,鈥� Fodness said, 鈥渂ut especially when everybody on the team is rooting for him so much to go to state. That was really cool to see.鈥�

1/3: Bemidji senior Filippo Buffo finishes delivering a serve during a practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)

2/3: Bemidji senior Filippo Buffo eyes the ball during practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)

3/3: Brothers Nic Buffo (left) and Filippo Buffo take a breather during a practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. Nic qualified for state as a BHS senior in 2018, while Filippo will make his state tournament debut this week. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)

1/3: Bemidji senior Filippo Buffo finishes delivering a serve during a practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)

2/3: Bemidji senior Filippo Buffo eyes the ball during practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)

3/3: Brothers Nic Buffo (left) and Filippo Buffo take a breather during a practice at the BHS tennis courts on Monday, June 7, 2021. Nic qualified for state as a BHS senior in 2018, while Filippo will make his state tournament debut this week. (Austin Monteith / Bemidji Pioneer)