Vashon High School senior Max Burnham will represent the Island at the boys tennis state tournament in Yakima this weekend.

Burnham qualified for state by beating Peter Duggins of Friday Harbor and Boris Rosenberg of Overlake at the quad-district boys tennis tournament May 22.

Though Burnham lost to Jake Inmam of Bear Creek — one of the best high school tennis players in the state —his two wins secured him a third-place seed to the Yakima 1A tournament this weekend.

Burnham will certainly be a contender, his coach Jake Dillon said.

“He’s very smart, very calm, doesn’t get riled about anything,” Dillon said. “And defense — he plays great defense. He hits everything back and makes the other guy miss.”

Burnham will play other 1A players in the state competition, many of whom are club players from private or preparatory schools and practice tennis year-round, Dillon said.

Burnham can therefore expect tough competitors on the court, he said.

Dillon added that he’s confident in the abilities of the tennis player, who also plays point guard for the Pirates basketball team.

“Between his calm demeanor and his excellent athleticism, you have to be a lot better than him to beat him,” he said.