The Marblehead High boys tennis team (6-0 in the Northeastern Conference, 7-2 overall) began a brand new week enjoying more success against two more conference rivals to remain perfect on the season.
The Marblehead boys first took care of host Winthrop, 5-0 on April 29. Junior captain Etan Farfel wiped out Luke Owen in first singles, 6-0, 6-0. Junior captain Jayden Janock experienced similar results in second singles, versus Orind Bytyqi 6-0, 6-0. Their classmate Quinn Fletcher maintained the winning trend over his Winthrop counterpart Allen Gal in third singles. 6-2, 6-1.
Junior Anthony Vizy and freshman Ty Cooper teamed up in first doubles to defeat Joe Disney and Nick Corelli, 6-0, 6-0. Juniors Leo Winocour and Ben Zaltsman completed the sweep in second doubles against Jackson Faber and Dario Ceresani, 8-1 in a pro set of eight to complete the already decided overall match.
In sub-varsity play, Austin Bacon and Alex Boehning were leading, 4-0, when it was time to go home.
The Magicians then hosted perennial power Latin Academy the very next day, but the home team had very little trouble dispatching its worthy opponents to the tune of 5-0.
Senior captain Mika Garber got it started by defeating Hewitt Ngo in first singles, 6-3, 6-0. “(Garber) showed excellent mental toughness against a very strong player,” said coach Elisabeth Foukal.
Junior captain Etan Farfel topped Matteas Washington in second singles, 6-1, 6-1 “Etan had to work for his points against this Latin Academy aggressive hitter,” said Foukal after the match.
Sophomore T.J. Kelly beat Cuban Salazar in third singles, 6-4, 6-4. “It was a well-played match,” said the veteran Marblehead coach, “but T.J. didn’t hold back on the big points to secure the win.”
Janock and Winocour came back in the second set from a 3-0 deficit to beat Ezequiel Pichardo Diaz and Kapil Parvateneni in first doubles, 6-0, 6-4. Vizy and Cooper then secured the shutout in second doubles, when they defeated Nate Hendrickson and Jackson Scotts, 6-1, 6-3.
In sub-varsity play, Quinn Fletcher and Bacon won, 6-3. Alex Boehning and Filip Wabno did the same, 6-2. Quinn Sullivan and Graydon Waller doubled up their opponents, 4-2. Cordt Menzler and Nico Altonian breezed to victory, 6-0. John Bender and Andrew Halvorson ended up on the short end of the scoreboard, 4-2.
Following the win over Latin Academy, the Magicians trekked to Gloucester to begin a brand-new month against the Fishermen, where the visitors won a close match, 3-2.
Garber began this match with success against Andry Paean Sosa, 6-0, 6-2. “This was first-rate tennis with both players in top form, but Mika played the better match after winning the big points,” said Foukal.
In second singles, Farfel got past Anders Pittman, 7-6 (7-0), 6-0.
“Etan was down, 5-3 in the first set, but then dug in to force a tiebreaker,” said Foukal. “He was dialed in for the win at that point, not losing a game,” said Foukal.
Kelly lost to Shane Widtfeldt in third singles, 6-1, 6-2 in a match that was much closer than the final score.
Janock and Winocour beat Cole Cubino and Dom Paune in first doubles, 6-1, 6-1. “They displayed excellent cool-headed play against two aggressive players,” said Foukal.
Vizy and Cooper lost two close sets to seniors Luke McElherny and Cam Widtfeldt in second doubles, 7-5, 6-4.
In sub-varsity play, Graydon Waller and Bacon won, 6-2. Boehning and Wabno also came out on top, 6-0. Nico Altonian and Caleb Sidman made it three in a row after a close 5-4 triumph.
Joe McConnell
