Wildcats Have Just Enough to Beat Darkness, Lynnfield

It wasn’t just visiting Lynnfield that the boys tennis team was up against on Thursday. The Wildcats were also in a closely contested battle with imposing nightfall.

In the end, Wilmington eked past both foes.

During a match that lasted nearly four hours, the Wildcats escaped with a 3-2 win thanks to a three set victory by Jamie Mara and Zach Anderson at No. 2 doubles.

“We just had a little more left in the tank,” said Wilmington head coach Robert Mailey. “In my nine years in the Cape Ann League, this is one of the closest matches I have ever been involved in.”

Every match except No. 2 singles went to the maximum of three sets. Adam Kline toppled Lynnfield’s James Hoole (6-3, 3-6, 6-4) at No. 1 singles, while Nick Romano won (6-2, 6-2) over Wilmington’s Zach Curley in No. 2 action.

Will MacKinnon snagged another close win for the Wildcats (6-2, 3-6, 6-4), giving the hosts the edge going into doubles play.

No. 1 doubles duo Andrew Fabiszewski and Pat Burgess won in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-4) over John Malone and Reg Della Pelle as Lynnfield knotted to match at 2-2.

That was when Mara and Anderson gritted out their three set win (7-6, 6-4, 7-5), despite falling behind 5-3 in the final set.

“They’re just growing. The second doubles team, even though they lost that third set, you could tell they came to get it tonight. That match is going to help them down the road in the future and we’re all going to benefit from it, even though we lost,” said Lynnfield head coach John Harrison. “It’s not about this year necessarily, it’s not about tonight. We’re just trying to improve. This match may help us win a tournament match either this season or in the future.” 

The victory was the for Wilmington to start the season.

“It’s a huge win for us,” said Mailey. “Last year we couldn’t even compete with a team like this. We don’t even know how good we are, and maybe we’ll just keep it that way and keep battling. We talk about it all the time how important it is to hang in there mentally. I thought they did a tremendous job of that.”

During the final doubles match, the sun began setting in the distance. Not long after the match ended, darkness had set in.

“I’m supposed to get to prom, and I’m late,” Harrison said lightheartedly. “But it’s OK. It was well worth it.”