BRUNSWICK

The MPA tennis season is just past the mid-season mark for most teams and the Brunswick boys and girls remain unbeaten and atop the Eastern Maine Class A standings.

Brunswick girls

Longtime coach Rob Manter knew he had a strong nucleus returning from last year’s State Class A championship squad. But, he didn’t know that his group would be this good.

To wit: The Dragons have won all seven matches 5-0!

“I think that we have a chance,” said Manter of the Dragons’ chances of repeating. “Our singles are stronger than last year, and we have two returning experienced doubles players. The key will be making number-two doubles strong since in the states last year, we needed both doubles wins to take the title.”

One key has been the emergence of Leah Soloway.

“I would say that in singles, Leah Soloway at the number-three spot has really improved over the past year,” lauded Manter. “Last year she was a number-two doubles starter, and this year she has become a very consistent, mentally tough player for us at that critical number-three singles spot.

“Maisie (Silverman), Ali (Stankiewicz), Samiera (MacMullen) and Hannah Bobker have all improved as expected. Ari Kasabian and Ellie Mersereau are playing well, coming out of last year’s jayvee program. I have a freshman Elizabeth Day who is a very good athlete, and is now, with the experience of practices, beginning to understand doubles. She may be an important part of the mix.”

Of his team’s current record, Manter said, “So far, no one has given us much of a challenge, except in a few individual matches. Hampden apparently is very good this year, with a strong number-one, a talented exchange student at number-two, and supposedly a pretty good team behind these players. We don’t play them in the regular season, but we could face them in the playoffs.”

The postseason is right around the bend, with quarterfinal action set for May 30. Manter will not let his team lose sight of the ultimate goal.

“One key is to stay focused,” he said. “Some of our players have had very easy matches, and I need to keep them on their toes, because whether it is Hampden, or some other team on a given day, we can’t be asleep at the wheel. Our other key is to find the right and strongest combo for number-two doubles, still a bit of a work in progress.”

Silverman is 6-0 and has not lost a game, Stankiewicz and Soloway are 7-0, while the number-one doubles tandem of Bobker and MacMullen are 5-0.

Kasabian, Mersereau, Hannah Kressbach and Day have contributed to second doubles.

“And, we have some nice players just behind these players as well — Maddie Stoll, Samm Clark and Gillian Doehring,” said Manter.

The Dragons visit nemesis Lewiston today.

Brunswick boys

With Rebecca Costa pregnant and unable to coach, Sewall Janeway stepped in. The Dragons haven’t missed a beat.

“Going in, I knew very little about the team,” said Janeway. “Upon taking the job I found out that last year’s number-one singles player was going to be in Bangladesh during the season and the number-one doubles team was playing another spring sport. Nevertheless, we actually have a strong team.

There is talent on this squad.

“We are pretty strong all over. Mitch Cooney (5-1) has returned to tennis after playing lacrosse for a number of years and is playing very well at number one. Jimmy Kenyon (6-1) and Henry Ditzel (5-2) have also been winning a lot of singles matches. Our doubles teams have been very effective. Joel Soloway (7-0) and Angelo Gerardi (6-0) are playing great tennis at number one doubles, and Ben Lord (6-0) and Damian Koch (5-0) haven’t lost a set at number-two doubles.”

Other contributors include doubles players Oliver Smith (2-0), Xander Knox (2-0) and Patrick Kinee (1-0).

“I didn’t really know what to expect at the beginning of the season,” added Janeway. “As it has progressed I have realized that we are quite competitive. Teams in the East, including Bangor and Hampden, are looking pretty tough. Teams in the West, including Gorham, Windham and Kennebunk, are all having successful seasons.”

Like with Manter, Janeway doesn’t want his charges to let up.

“We need to keep our focus going forward. We have a great group of guys, but if we want to go all the way we are going to have to ramp up the intensity, desire and commitment.

“No matter what happens going forward, it has been a wonderful experience working with this team. They have shown great sportsmanship and excellent athletic ability, and they are all very intelligent, friendly and cooperative.”

Brunswick hosts Lewiston this afternoon.

Freeport girls

The Falcons, fresh off a 3-2 win over Fryeburg Academy, sit at 4-3 and in the 10th and final playoff spot in Western Maine Class B.

“I think our strengths on the court are our resilience, our ability to change things on the fly when they needed to be changed and our ability to bounce back when we need to,” said head coach Chris Nordenson. “I also think a strength is that we are able to have fun on the court, which keeps us relaxed. Our doubles teams are also really good at supporting each other on the court and staying positive with each other.”

There have been some pleasant surprises along the way.

“I would have to say Laura Bielfeldt, our German foreign exchange student, is our biggest surprise,” said Nordenson. “She has yet to lose a match that she completes. She didn’t complete a three-setter against Greely and missed York, but she has been a very strong positive influence on and off the court for us.

“Katie McClelland wasn’t really a surprise, but she continues to get better and learn with each match, and if she continues to work hard could easily be a top-20 player in the state next year, in my opinion.

“Lastly, Lauren Carter, Hannah Williams and Lindsey Dealaman are all relatively new to the game but have done a great job at number-two doubles for us. They fight very hard for every point and are very eager to learn. They are definitely players to watch in the future.”

Although pleased with his team’s performance, Nordenson won’t get too far ahead,

“I think right now we just need to take it a game at a time,” he said. “I think the playoffs are reachable … Fryeburg was a good win for us, but we also have some very tough opponents left on our schedule, including Waynflete, NYA and Falmouth.

“We play against some great teams and we have to make sure that we stay energized as a team because it is easy to lose to any team on any given day. I always tell my girls we will take it one point at a time and go from there. These girls work hard and deserve to be in the playoffs, but I am of course biased being their coach!”

Freeport visits NYA this afternoon.

Freeport boys

The Falcons are currently 5-2 (fourth in Western Maine Class B) and host NYA today.

“To be honest, I did think we could be 5-2 at this juncture, but you never know year to year because of just how good all the teams are in this league,” said head coach Jay Harper. “And, Fryeburg can get in new quality players as they did this year with their number one from Spain. But, I knew we lost little to nothing from a really good 4-8 team of last year. So my hope was a 9-3 or 8-4 season, but I would be OK going 6-6.

“I feel everyone is doing their part and helping, but number-three Chris West has been on a roll, and both doubles teams are ridiculously good and keep winning.

“It’s Cape and Falmouth and Waynflete in our league, but in Class C, NYA has a good team this year … we just need to keep doing what we are doing. We have good chemistry and the team is building lots of confidence.”

Ryder Bennell is 7-0 at numbertwo doubles and Caleb Abbott is 6-0 at number-two doubles with him. Connor McLellan and Landon Easler are 6-1.

“Chris West is 5-1 at number-three singles and he has been playing so well and consistent and truly going out and competing every match … he is a stellar number-three player,” lauded Harper.

“Freshmen Nate Small is having to take on the best of the best in the best league in the state and it has been difficult, but he is our best. And, he allows seniors Abrin Berkemeyer and Chris West to play at their spots and get us wins … I am proud of him and I know it is difficult for him to keep losing. Abrin has beaten two quality opponents versus Yarmouth and Fryeburg and has been a true grinder.”