Undefeated Blue Devils hand Norwich tennis a loss
Frank Speziale Photo
Pictured is Josiah Shaver of Norwich
BINGHAMTON – Norwich varsity tennis had a goal on Tuesday, when they traveled to Blue Devils country for a chance to hopefully topple undefeated Chenango Forks.
“I have a young team and they are learning. They have five seniors, and it showed up,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “Overall the match didn’t have much meaning, Chenango Forks is undefeated and the division champs. But I really wanted to give these kids a sense of real pressure, because if this core group stays together over the next couple years, this is going to be the team to beat. We just cant get swept at doubles.”
Norwich dropped the match at team score of 5-2, however, offered up solid resistance to the senior-laden Blue Devils en route to the loss.
“Every singles player played awesome, Josiah (Shaver) played the best match of the season, he was up 5-4 in the third and just couldn’t close them. Joel (Fazio) played two (singles) and played solid tennis, beating his kid in straight sets,” said coach Stewart. “Zayn Harper beat his kid in straight sets, solid Tennis. Youth caught up with Matt (Giglio) in the third set losing 6-0. Lost the first set 7-6 and was up the entire time, the kid flipped him and came back for the win. The fact that he came back and won 6-1 in the second set is pretty impressive.”
Norwich’s two wins came at second and third singles. Joel Fazio defeats Chenango Forks second singles player Niklas Boeker at 7-5 and 6-2 – while Zayne Harper downed Declan Houlihan at 6-4 and 6-1.
“I thought that Joel Fazio really had to play the best tennis of his life to beat that kid at second singles, and he did,” said coach Stewart.
The top-singles spot saw Aidan Houlihan of Chenango Forks defeat Josiah Shaver at 6-2, 5-7, and 7-6(7-4) – while fourth singles saw Jared Hopkins defeats Norwich’s Matt Giglio at 7-6(7-4), 1-6, and 6-0.
Norwich’s achilles heel of the matchup was the doubles side of the competition, who battled the uphill battle of youth against seniors – however, would see the Blue Devils sweep the competition.
“Five out of the six doubles players (Norwich) are first year players. A little bit of our inexperience showed itself,” said coach Stewart. “This is all good stuff, because this core group is going forward. But we are only as good as what we learn from this match.”
Norwich’s top doubles team of Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard was defeated by Josh Wheelock and Konnor Brown of Chenango Forks by a score of 7-6(7-4), and 6-3.
The second doubles duo of Mark Boot and Timothy Boot of Chenango Forks) bested Jahlil Jones and Zac Marsh in a tight fight at 6-4 and 6-4 – while third doubles of Aaron Pixley and Patrick Saroka edged out Nathan Christopherson and Dakota Hall of Norwich at 6-1 and 6-2.
Norwich varsity tennis returns to the court one last time for their regular season finale on Wednesday, May 3, when they travel to Chenango Valley at 4 p.m.
“They (Norwich) definitely felt the pressure. They (Chenango Forks) were undefeated, and we wanted to be the team to beat them,” said coach Stewart. “The goal is to keep the winning record intact.”
Norwich currently holds an overall record of 5-4 for the 2017 season, and hopes to extend the wins to six when Chenango Valley rolls around.
Sectional tennis begins on May 11, as Norwich’s top-six players will be preparing for postseason play following the Wednesday match with the CV Warriors.
Pictured is Josiah Shaver of Norwich
BINGHAMTON – Norwich varsity tennis had a goal on Tuesday, when they traveled to Blue Devils country for a chance to hopefully topple undefeated Chenango Forks.
“I have a young team and they are learning. They have five seniors, and it showed up,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “Overall the match didn’t have much meaning, Chenango Forks is undefeated and the division champs. But I really wanted to give these kids a sense of real pressure, because if this core group stays together over the next couple years, this is going to be the team to beat. We just cant get swept at doubles.”
Norwich dropped the match at team score of 5-2, however, offered up solid resistance to the senior-laden Blue Devils en route to the loss.
“Every singles player played awesome, Josiah (Shaver) played the best match of the season, he was up 5-4 in the third and just couldn’t close them. Joel (Fazio) played two (singles) and played solid tennis, beating his kid in straight sets,” said coach Stewart. “Zayn Harper beat his kid in straight sets, solid Tennis. Youth caught up with Matt (Giglio) in the third set losing 6-0. Lost the first set 7-6 and was up the entire time, the kid flipped him and came back for the win. The fact that he came back and won 6-1 in the second set is pretty impressive.”
Norwich’s two wins came at second and third singles. Joel Fazio defeats Chenango Forks second singles player Niklas Boeker at 7-5 and 6-2 – while Zayne Harper downed Declan Houlihan at 6-4 and 6-1.
“I thought that Joel Fazio really had to play the best tennis of his life to beat that kid at second singles, and he did,” said coach Stewart.
The top-singles spot saw Aidan Houlihan of Chenango Forks defeat Josiah Shaver at 6-2, 5-7, and 7-6(7-4) – while fourth singles saw Jared Hopkins defeats Norwich’s Matt Giglio at 7-6(7-4), 1-6, and 6-0.
Norwich’s achilles heel of the matchup was the doubles side of the competition, who battled the uphill battle of youth against seniors – however, would see the Blue Devils sweep the competition.
“Five out of the six doubles players (Norwich) are first year players. A little bit of our inexperience showed itself,” said coach Stewart. “This is all good stuff, because this core group is going forward. But we are only as good as what we learn from this match.”
Norwich’s top doubles team of Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard was defeated by Josh Wheelock and Konnor Brown of Chenango Forks by a score of 7-6(7-4), and 6-3.
The second doubles duo of Mark Boot and Timothy Boot of Chenango Forks) bested Jahlil Jones and Zac Marsh in a tight fight at 6-4 and 6-4 – while third doubles of Aaron Pixley and Patrick Saroka edged out Nathan Christopherson and Dakota Hall of Norwich at 6-1 and 6-2.
Norwich varsity tennis returns to the court one last time for their regular season finale on Wednesday, May 3, when they travel to Chenango Valley at 4 p.m.
“They (Norwich) definitely felt the pressure. They (Chenango Forks) were undefeated, and we wanted to be the team to beat them,” said coach Stewart. “The goal is to keep the winning record intact.”
Norwich currently holds an overall record of 5-4 for the 2017 season, and hopes to extend the wins to six when Chenango Valley rolls around.
Sectional tennis begins on May 11, as Norwich’s top-six players will be preparing for postseason play following the Wednesday match with the CV Warriors.
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