Norwich tennis concludes season, keeps winning record intact
Frank Speziale Photo
BINGHAMTON – Norwich varsity tennis completed their regular season, maintaining a goal of a having a winning team record when it all was said and done.
With a road win on Wednesday, May 3, Norwich defeated division opponent Chenango Valley edging the Warriors out 4-3.
“Norwich took second place in the division, now moving to sectionals,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “Tonight we played an altered lineup with our sectional lineup in mind.”
Making changes to the roster is something Stewart has become a master at over the decades of coaching the Tornado – adjusting each season’s roster to fit where each athlete will better themselves and the team the most. With the recent moves, Joel Fazio played first singles, Zayn Harper was at second singles, Jahlil Jones made his first appearance in a singles match playing third singles, with Nate Christopherson rounding out the singles side at fourth singles.
Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard played first doubles, with the duo of Josiah Shaver and Matt Gigilo combining for second doubles – and Zac Marsh and Dakota Hall finishing up the lineup at third doubles.
Taking the decisive fourth point in the matchup and at first singles, Joel Fazio defeated Sam Hatton of Chenango Valley in straight sets at 6-4 and 6-2.
“Joel (Fazio) was down 3-0 in the first set and then went on a 6 to 1 run to win the first set and cruise to two set victory,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich earned their second point in the singles side when Zayn Harper held down the second singles spot to the tune of a 6-2 and 6-0 win over Gunnar Madison.
“Zayn Harper easily won in straight sets clearly playing his best tennis of the season,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich’s Jahlil Jones, found his singles debut to not fully go his way – dropping the matchup to Corey Hanson at third singles by a score of 6-4 and 6-2.
Bobby Gross earned the Warriors the split in singles play with a three-set win over Norwich’s Christopherson, with a score of 7-5, 3-6 and 6-2.
“Jahlil Jones lost a tough match at third singles in straight sets,” said coach Stewart. “Losing a three set battle at fourth singles, Nate Christopherson.”
The steady duo of Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard earned a win at the top singles spot with a straight set win over CV’s Dan Norris and Spencer Root, at 6-3 and 6-3.
“The first time they (CV) played Norwich, (Norwich) lost in three-setter,” said coach Stewart. “A nice win for them tonight, we played much better than the first match.”
The new duo of Shaver and Giglio looked to be a promising fit for the Tornado as they move forward, winning in straight sets at 6-2 and 6-2 over James Wyatt and Carter Wilson.
“Easily winning in straight sets. Matt (Giglio) and Josiah (Shaver) played doubles tonight because they are playing together in sectionals, and we wanted to get some playing time in,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich’s lone loss for the doubles side, came when Matt Igo and Jon Miller defeated Zac Marsh and Dakota Hall in straight sets – blanking the Norwich duo at 6-0 and 6-0.
With the win on Wednesday, Norwich concludes their regular season play with an overall record of 6-4 – claiming a second place finish behind the undefeated Blue Devils of Chenango Forks at 9-0.
Next up for Norwich, the top-six players on the squad will advance to sectional play which starts on May 11, and will be played at Tioga Hills Elementary, in Tioga.
BINGHAMTON – Norwich varsity tennis completed their regular season, maintaining a goal of a having a winning team record when it all was said and done.
With a road win on Wednesday, May 3, Norwich defeated division opponent Chenango Valley edging the Warriors out 4-3.
“Norwich took second place in the division, now moving to sectionals,” said Norwich head coach John Stewart. “Tonight we played an altered lineup with our sectional lineup in mind.”
Making changes to the roster is something Stewart has become a master at over the decades of coaching the Tornado – adjusting each season’s roster to fit where each athlete will better themselves and the team the most. With the recent moves, Joel Fazio played first singles, Zayn Harper was at second singles, Jahlil Jones made his first appearance in a singles match playing third singles, with Nate Christopherson rounding out the singles side at fourth singles.
Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard played first doubles, with the duo of Josiah Shaver and Matt Gigilo combining for second doubles – and Zac Marsh and Dakota Hall finishing up the lineup at third doubles.
Taking the decisive fourth point in the matchup and at first singles, Joel Fazio defeated Sam Hatton of Chenango Valley in straight sets at 6-4 and 6-2.
“Joel (Fazio) was down 3-0 in the first set and then went on a 6 to 1 run to win the first set and cruise to two set victory,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich earned their second point in the singles side when Zayn Harper held down the second singles spot to the tune of a 6-2 and 6-0 win over Gunnar Madison.
“Zayn Harper easily won in straight sets clearly playing his best tennis of the season,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich’s Jahlil Jones, found his singles debut to not fully go his way – dropping the matchup to Corey Hanson at third singles by a score of 6-4 and 6-2.
Bobby Gross earned the Warriors the split in singles play with a three-set win over Norwich’s Christopherson, with a score of 7-5, 3-6 and 6-2.
“Jahlil Jones lost a tough match at third singles in straight sets,” said coach Stewart. “Losing a three set battle at fourth singles, Nate Christopherson.”
The steady duo of Austin Benenati and Carson Maynard earned a win at the top singles spot with a straight set win over CV’s Dan Norris and Spencer Root, at 6-3 and 6-3.
“The first time they (CV) played Norwich, (Norwich) lost in three-setter,” said coach Stewart. “A nice win for them tonight, we played much better than the first match.”
The new duo of Shaver and Giglio looked to be a promising fit for the Tornado as they move forward, winning in straight sets at 6-2 and 6-2 over James Wyatt and Carter Wilson.
“Easily winning in straight sets. Matt (Giglio) and Josiah (Shaver) played doubles tonight because they are playing together in sectionals, and we wanted to get some playing time in,” said coach Stewart.
Norwich’s lone loss for the doubles side, came when Matt Igo and Jon Miller defeated Zac Marsh and Dakota Hall in straight sets – blanking the Norwich duo at 6-0 and 6-0.
With the win on Wednesday, Norwich concludes their regular season play with an overall record of 6-4 – claiming a second place finish behind the undefeated Blue Devils of Chenango Forks at 9-0.
Next up for Norwich, the top-six players on the squad will advance to sectional play which starts on May 11, and will be played at Tioga Hills Elementary, in Tioga.
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