FREEPORT _ It was June 2018, and the Freeport High School boys’ tennis team had just finished a 3-2 loss to Caribou in the State Class B championship at Lewiston High School.

There was disappointed. Why wouldn’t there be — when a team comes all so close to realizing a dream of being the Class B’s best? 

But, when Falcons head coach Jay Harper gathered his team for the final time on that warm late June morning, he realized that nearly every face in front of him was planning on returning for the 2019 season. 

And so far, this Western Maine Conference campaign has pretty much gone according to plan, as the Falcons stand at 10-1, one win away against York today from claiming the WMC regular season title for the first time. 

“The season has gone very well, just one loss and we avenged that loss against Waynflete, a team we hadn’t beaten in 15 years,” said Freeport coach Jay Harper. “We have a ton of competition this year, Yarmouth, Greely. We knew early on that Yarmouth would be really good and they have (Archie) McDonough, a freshman who is really good, and Greely has a freshman in (Leif) Boddie who is also really good, and they were really tough matches that we won. I feel us, Greely or Yarmouth could represent this region at states.”

Last weekend, both of Freeport’s doubles teams advanced to the Maine State Doubles Championship. The No. 1 duo of Aaron Rusiecki and Sully Smith took on No. 2 TJ Whelan and Gage King. It was a battle, with the match going three sets before seniors Rusiecki/Smith pulled off a 3-6, 6-0, 10-6 victory. 

“It was special. TJ and Gage had one of the hardest draws, playing a good Waynflete team that beat us one time this year,” said Smith. “They went through them and made it to the finals, which is big for this program. For us to win, it was spectacular.”

Smith said he felt “some pressure,” being that they were the No. 1 doubles team, with Whelan/King No. 2.   

“We felt some pressure for bragging rights. They might have held it over our heads. It wasn’t a challenge match and we felt that we should win because we are one doubles,” Smith said. 

“It was big for us, and even bigger for the program of seeing the two doubles teams from Freeport there in the final,” added Rusiecki. “Doubles is important for us — two of the three points you need to win a match — and if you can get those two points you need just one from singles, which is huge.”

“Doubles has played fantastic and they will need to carry us come playoff time,” Harper said.

Solid singles

Harper has the kind of “problem” that most coaches likely want. Singles players Clay Canterbury and Wes Goodwin are so close in ability that Harper has often flip-flopped them at the top singles spot come match time. 

Canterbury has taken the reigns lately and is the No. 6 seed in this weekend’s Maine Principals’ Association Schoolboys tournament. Canterbury will meet the winner of the Nick Gurney (Mt. Blue)-Alex Hansen (Cape Elizabeth) match in the round of 32 at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Lewiston High School.

Goodwin is unseeded and plays Brunswick’s Connor Shaw in the round of 48 on Friday at 8:15 a.m. The winner advances to face No. 8 Ezra LeMole of Camden Hills later on Friday (1:15 p.m.). 

Liam Gould is the No. 3 singles player for the Falcons. He feels his team has grown more this season, having faced the best that the WMC has to offer. 

“It has been a really good season and we have played pretty well,” Gould said. “We didn’t feel as much pressure coming into the season, just more determination to play better, with some good freshmen coming up. We have focused on putting it all out there.” 

The Falcons appear to be a confident bunch, knowing their goal is right in front of them. 

“From the end of the season last year, after the heartbreak, we are going for it this year. We want to win that state title,” said Rusiecki.

“We knew everyone this year would be gunning for us, being the regional champs. We are confident, and we have practiced to improve our game every day,” added Smith. 

“The kids have done a real good job with (the pressure). Last year gave us a lot of experience at being in the playoffs and beating three quality teams to get to states,” said Harper. “Losing states motivated the team. 

“The kids are confident, but not cocky. It is a group that I know and enjoy being with. We talked about it all winter, with the kids saying they can’t wait for tennis. It has been exciting and has panned out the way we hoped so far.”

For Freeport, it is all about winning the state title this time around after the tough loss to Caribou last season. 

“States has to be the goal and would be a sad thing if it didn’t come to fruition,” said Harper. “But if we don’t win, it won’t be because they were not prepared. These seniors deserve it and have worked hard. We are hoping to bring a state championship to Freeport.”

“States is everything to us. We have worked four years to reach that goal,” agreed Gould.