Boys Tennis Awaits Tournament Opponent

The state tournament is a perfect opportunity to exact revenge on a team you lost to.

For the boys tennis team, the Div. 3 North Sectionals gives them the chance to kill two birds with one overhead smash.

Not only is Pentucket - the only team to beat the Generals this year - in their path, but so is Weston, the squad that ousted Hamilton-Wenham in last year’s North finals.

“(The tournament) set up the way I had hoped,” said coach Joe Maher. “If we had to play Weston, I hoped it wasn’t until the finals. And if (we had to play) Pentucket, not until the semifinals. If I had to pick my draw this is it.”

First off, however, has been some waiting. With the No. 3 seed, the Generals have earned a bye. They host the winner of the Manchester-Essex and Arlington Catholic match, being played on Saturday, on Monday at 3:30 p.m. at .

The only blemishes on the Generals record were a pair of 3-2 losses to league rival Pentucket - one of them when Spencer Collins was unable to play. With Pentucket in the Cape Ann League Large Division, Hamilton-Wenham was able to capture the Small Division title with an undefeated slate.

“I felt it was a great season. Our goal as a team is to win the Small (Division),” Maher said. “The was a little disappointing. It was our first match of the year and I don’t think we played great. The second time … we competed well but had a first-time doubles player. If we face them a third time around we will play with a lot of confidence and get a win when it matters - in the state tournament.”

Maher got a solid season from all his players.

His No. 3 singles player, Trip McLean, finished a perfect 14-0. Stuart Rowe, a junior at No. 1 singles, and No. 2 singles player Jack Lebel, a senior who played doubles for three years, posted 10-2 and 13-1 marks, respectively.

“(Hamilton-Wenham) has always had strong doubles team through the years. This year I feel we had great balance (with singles and doubles),” said Maher, whose singles entries finished 48-4.

Not to be outdone were the tandems of seniors Collins and Chris Young, and juniors Brian Rodgers and Joey Merrill. Both teams finished 12-1 when playing with their regular partner.

“My most pleasant surprise has been Brian Rodgers and Joey Merrill at second doubles, who were undefeated in the Cape Ann League. For two kids who never played varsity, I liked the intensity and how they competed.”

With the opportunity to make up for their only losses Maher said the players are looking forward to the chance to line up on the other side of the net with Pentucket. The two teams will meet if both teams win their first match.

“The kids are definitely looking forward to another chance against Pentucket,” Maher said. “It is my job to make sure they aren’t overconfident (in their first tournament match). To play a team three times in a season is always dangerous. That is what we are hoping with Pentucket, but Manchester can be looking that way with us.”