SACO — Thornton Academy had something this season that no other boys tennis team in the SMAA had: An unstoppable doubles duo.
Alex Lambert and Justin Pollard rolled through an undefeated regular season for the Golden Trojans as it finished 15-0 and won the SMAA doubles title. That title was the first of its kind for any Thornton Academy singles player or doubles team in boys tennis.
As a result, the two players have earned the 2012 Journal Tribune Tennis Players of the Year honors.
“They had a great season,” Thornton Academy tennis coach Andrew Carlson said. “You have to give them a lot of credit for having a great season together.”
The two friends started playing together midway through the 2011 season. Something clicked this year, Carlson said.
The two easily won their first two matches in the SMAA tournament and then beat Kennebunk and Scarborough in the quarterfinals and semifinals respectively before holding off Gorham in the finals.
“Doubles is all about momentum,” Carlson said. “In their quarterfinals match it was a pro-set style (meaning best of eight games) and they got down 6-3 before coming back to win. I think that showed their maturity.”
Carlson described the duo as being extremely athletic and said that they didn’t like to practice because of their intense competitive nature.
That energy, athleticism and competitiveness needed to be harnessed, Carlson said.
“They were very explosive, but in tennis that can be a good and bad thing,” Carlson said. “You need to make it work for you because if you can’t control it, you will start making mistakes and momentum can change in a hurry.”
This was the duo’s last season in high school playing together. Thornton graduated Pollard in June and he will head to Keene State in the fall. Lambert is now a senior.
Either way, Carlson said this season will always be remembered.
“They played together so well,” Carlson said. “They came every day with a lot of enthusiasm and they were the perfect teammates.”
— Contact Al Edwards at 282-1535, Ext. 323.
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