HERSHEY - The competitor in Henry Paiste wasn't going to be satisfied leaving the Hershey Racquet Club with anything less than the ultimate prize.

But the realist in Henry Paiste knew that the ultimate prize isn't necessarily the only prize."The goal is to win every match you play," said Paiste just moments after playing his final high school match. "Sure, I would have liked to win gold. That was my ultimate goal."But even though I fell short, I'll leave here happy with my effort and pleased with how I competed and carried myself."Paiste's final day as a high school tennis player ended Saturday afternoon with a pair of losses and a fourth place finish in the PIAA Class AA Singles Tennis Tournament.It ended a brilliant scholastic career during which the Northwestern School District athlete became just the second four-time singles champion in District 11 history, earned four trips to the PIAA Tournament, and captured a pair of State fourth-place medals."It's been four great years," said Paiste. "As sad as I want to be, I can't be. I have so many great memories."Despite falling to eventual state champion Andre Fick of Wyomissing in the semifinals, Paiste might have played his best match of the two-day tournament.The only service break of the first set helped Fick pull out a 6-4 win. He added a pair of service breaks in the second set to win that one, 6-3."Andre played extremely well," said Paiste. "I think his 6-0, 6-0 win in the final speaks for itself. He just played out of his mind today."His game is perfectly suited for these courts. He is such a great athlete and these courts are very fast. That combination was tough to overcome."Despite the sweep, Paiste gave the undefeated Fick (31-0) all he could handle. During the first set, Fick won 37 points to Paiste's 35. In that set, Paiste had three deuce points during Fick's serves but could never get a break.Fick's second set was a little more dominating, but Paiste still hung tough, jumping out to a 2-1 lead. He was in the match trailing 4-3 and down just one break before Fick won the final two games."Andre and I have been playing each other in USTA tournaments since we were about 12 years old," said Paiste. "We've probably been pretty even in matches against each other over the years, but he's beaten me the last two seasons in the state tournament, so I guess that gives him the edge in our battles."In the consolation match, Paiste faced another highly touted opponent in Lancaster County Day's Blaise Casselbury. Casselbury, a junior, hasn't lost a regular season match in his high school career. He finished second to Fick in the District 3 tournament.Casselbury defeated Paiste is a lengthy match, 6-4, 7-5."I knew taking the court that it was obviously going to be my final high school match," said Paiste. "So I tried to take everything in and enjoy it."I thought I played pretty well, but Blaise was a little better. "Although Paiste mentioned a couple of times that losing is never fun, he said that competing to be the best is."I've enjoyed my high school career so much," Paiste said. "I have had so much help and support that has allowed me to accomplish what I have."My coaches, my family and my friends have all pushed me to become the best I could be. It's been truly an amazing four years."