Brookline Boys Tennis Avenges Loss to Lexington in D-1 Semis Win

BROOKLINE, MA — Avenging is loss in sports is always sweet.

When this payback occurs in the biggest match of the season to date, this compounds the honeyed flavor for the team that just garnered retribution. The Brookline High boys tennis team savored the taste of payback Tuesday June 19 in the Division 1 Semifinals with a 3-2 victory over Lexington at Newton North High.

With the win, Brookline raised its record to 19-1 and advanced to the Division 1 championship match, where it will play Central Division champion Marlborough (18-1) Thursday June 21 at St. John’s High in Shrewsbury. Lexington finished the season at 22-1.

“It feels awesome,” Warriors coach Nick Pero said. “We knew we had to schedule them [in the regular season] to see how we matched up. It was a total result of the process that started last fall when we made the schedule, so it feels good all that thought and energy paid off.”

Brookline lost 3-2 on the road to the Minutemen May 1. In the regular-season match, sophomores Kei Ogawa and Ben Moolman were doubles partners for the Warriors, but in the rematch, Ogawa played at third singles and Moolman was paired with junior Aaron Fleishman at second doubles.

“After losing to them in the regular season, we figured we needed to change our lineup,” Pero said. “It was a calculated lineup shift.”

Ogawa won his match, 6-4, 6-2 to give Brookline a 2-1 overall lead.

“It was windy and tried to finish the points faster,” Ogawa said. “I went to net more and served and volleyed.”

Playing at singles fulfilled Ogawa’s wishes. He moved to singles after the Warriors’ May 1 loss in Lexington.

“He had been pestering me to play singles for the last year and a half,” Pero said. “He knew he had pressure, he knew he had to win the match, and he came through. That says a lot about him.”

Ogawa said, “I kept on telling coach I wanted to play singles. I had nothing to lose and I was psyched.”

Moolman and junior Aaron Fleishman gave Brookline a 3-1 lead and clinched the victory with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) victory at second doubles. The Warrior tandem overcame a 3-0 deficit in the first set.

“It felt good,” Fleishman said. “It was a tough match. We started to focus [after falling behind in the first set]. The second set was tough but we stayed on serve and brought it to them in the tiebreaker.”

Moolman said, “We played really well. We had a slow start but started to play hard. We usually start slow, but once we focus, we play good.”

Following Fleishman and Moolman’s victory, the Warriors celebrated. The duo was able to breathe a sigh of relief as they accomplished their mission.

“It was exciting,” Fleishman said. “It was the match we needed to win, and we took it to them.”

Brookline got its first point at first singles with freshman Sam Feldman dominated Kyle McCandless, 6-1, 6-1 at first singles.

“The key was to always stay focused,” Feldman said. “I never thought the match was over until it was done. I had a tough match with him earlier and it was a matter of staying focused.”

Feldman is ranked 30th nationally for his age group and is familiar with McCandless as they train together at Longfellow Tennis Club in Natick and Wayland.

“We know each other well because we train together,” Feldman said. “I think it helped being familiar with his game.”

Although Warrior freshman Noah Schwartz has had an outstanding season, he faced a formidable opponent at second singles in Griffin Posey and lost the first nine games of the match. Schwartz battled after falling behind 3-0 in the second set, but Posey prevailed, 6-0, 6-2.

“I had a good season, and I’m happy to play at second singles,” Schwartz said. “It’s a big accomplishment considering the skill level on our team. Griffin [Posey] played good tennis.”

Schwartz isn’t a first-generation Brookline tennis player. His father Marc Schwartz (Class of 1986) and Uncle Howard Schwartz (Class of 1984) were All-Americans and played on the Warriors’ last state championship team.

“I’m just glad I get to continue the tradition,” said Noah Schwartz, who feels no pressure to emulate his father and uncle. “My parents and family are proud of me.”

Lexington got the final point of the match with its State Individuals Doubles Champions Aaron Chen and Charles Wang beating Brookline senior captain Nate Comerchero and junior captain Josh Fleishman, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1) at first doubles.

The Warrior captains played hard, but the State Doubles Champions showed that they are worthy of their crown. Chen and Wang earned their title against Ogawa and Moolman last Saturday. Which shows how familiar the teams are with each other.

“It would have been nice to get an individuals title, but it’s definitely about the team and Tuesday’s match was more important,” Pero said.

Comerchero said, “It was awesome. I’ve been on the team for four years and we played Lexington my sophomore year.”

Brookline lost 3-2 to Lexington in the Division 1 semifinals in 2016.

“Beating Lexington was our goal after the [May 1] loss and it feels good to avenge the loss,” Josh Fleishman said.

This is the Warriors’ first trip to the State Championship since 2004. They know they will have to bring their A game in order to beat the Marlborough Panthers.

“It will come down to having the same focus we had against Lexington and not having a letdown,” Pero said.

Comerchero said, “We need to be focused, and we have to come out strong.”

Josh Fleishman said, “We have to come out with the same intensity we had against Lexington. We have to keep our mindset on the same place and keep our eyes on the prize.”

This post was by Eliot Schickler who is currently a Brookline resident. Schickler was the sports editor for the Westport News for 12 years.

Photos contributed by the Brookline High Athletic Department.

First photo. A Brookline boys tennis player at an indoor practice. The practices paid off for the Warriors as they defeated Lexington Tuesday June 19 in the Division 1 Semifinals.

Second photo. The Brookline boys tennis team enjoys a bus ride earlier in the season. The Warriors hope their bus ride Thursday June 21 to St. John's High in Shrewsbury will be a success as they will travel to Central Mass. to face Marlborough High for the Division 1 State title.