It was almost too easy last year for Norwich juniors Bryn Loomis and Sophie Stewart.

The Norwich doubles team did not come close to losing a set in winning their first Section IV doubles title, and didn’t drop a set until the finals of the Section IV state qualifier where they ended up in second place.

As heavy favorites entering this year’s tournament, Loomis and Stewart breezed into the finals with a pair of relatively easy wins, and coasted in the opening set of the B finals against Chenango Valley’s Lauren Eggleston and Olivia Hewison.

“They (Bryn and Sophie) didn’t play their best tennis in the second and third sets of the final,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “The other girls were playing very good tennis, and we kind of got unwound. Bryn and Sophie stayed together, and found a way to win. Winners always find a way to win.”

The comfortable first-set win for the NHS team was followed up by a dominant 6-2 win for CV in the penultimate set. It got worse for Norwich in the third set as CV built a 4-2 lead, and led 5-4 with a match point in hand.

Loomis and Stewart staved off that match point, and went on to repeat as Class B titlists. Next up is a second trip to the Section IV state qualifier, as well as our weekly honor as Smith Ford LLC, Giant’s Warehouse/Evening Sun Athletes of the Week.