The fifth-seeded Marblehead High boys tennis team’s historical season continues on into the Division 2 state semifinal round after it defeated host Walpole (15-6), the fourth seed, in an Elite 8 matchup, 3-2 on June 4.
Under the direction of first year head coach Karl Tenenholtz, these Magicians are now 20-2 on the season, and are awaiting the winner of the Hingham (17-2, eighth season) / Westborough (14-4, top seed) Elite 8 match that takes place later today, June 5, in Westborough to find out who they will be playing in the state semifinals.
TenenholtzI understands that all of this success to date is unprecedented for the program. “I think this is the first time that a (Marblehead) boys tennis team has ever made it to the state semifinals,” the coach said.
After Thursday’s triumph, the Marblehead boys received the Final Four trophy and banner to bring on home to the high school, and they were all happy to do so.
The rookie coach further elaborated on how it all happened. “T.J. Kelly won the team’s first point of the day in second singles, 6-2, 6-2, and then just one minute later our first doubles team of Adam Loughlin and Alex Boehning recorded the second win in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3,” said Tenenholtz. “At that point, Ty (Cooper) was winning 5-1 in the second set of his first singles match. The whole team then ran over to watch Ty clinch the win for the team with an overhead shot. He too won in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2.”
The goal for the season, according to Tenenholtz, was, while lofty, turned out to be rather doable. “We went into the season looking to win the (Northeastern Conference) and make it to the Elite 8,” he said. It was good on both counts.
But not to be surprised at anything that the Timberwolves might employ to beat them, Tenenholtz scouted their Sweet 16 match against Burlington (11-10, 13th seed), and told his players that this was definitely a very winnable match. For the record, Walpole defeated the Red Devils, 4-1.
“They were really motivated to beat Walpole after putting in the effort all season long in practice,” said Tenenholtz. “I’m very happy for them to be able to make it to the Final Four. Our captains – Adam Loughlin, T.J. Kelly, Ty Cooper and Alex Boehning – have been unbelievable this season, and it continued against Walpole with all of them winning their matches.”
Recapping the individual matches, Cooper defeated Stephen Jung in that pivotal first singles match, 6-1, 6-2 that ended up advancing the team to the state semifinals.
Kelly took care of Dillon Blaquiere in second singles, 6-2, 6-2. Caleb Sidman, however, lost to Brady Goldman in third singles, 2-6, 3-6.
The first doubles team of Loughlin and Boehning beat Luke Moses and Matt Anastasi, 6-3, 6-3. But Filip Wabno and Cordt Menzler dropped the second doubles match to Ramu Muthukarruppaa and Priv Sivakunar in three competitive sets, 2-6, 6-4, 8-10.
What a difference a year makes
Last year’s Magicians (16-3) were the 13th seed in Division 2, and were eliminated by Duxbury, 5-0 in a Sweet 16 encounter.
