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05/27/2018 12:00 AMComing into the 2018 SCC Tournament, the Hand boys’ tennis team was eager to wipe away the taste of defeat from last year’s conference final. The Tigers satisfied their appetite for a title, while solidifying an unblemished record for the season.
Hand was the SCC runner-up last year after losing to Fairfield Prep in the tournament final. After going 17-0 for the recent regular season, the Tigers began postseason play as the top seed in the SCC Tournament. Hand defeated No. 8 seed Shelton 6-1 in the quarterfinals on May 21. The Tigers then swept aside No. 4 Fairfield Prep, 7-0, in the semis at Yale University the next day to advance to their sixth straight league final and a matchup with No. 2 Amity. For the third time this spring, the Tigers netted a 7-0 sweep versus the Spartans to clinch the program’s fourth conference crown. Hand’s final record for the season stands at 20-0 following the victory at Yale on May 23.
“Obviously, I am extremely happy for us taking back our SCC title and proud of everyone on the team on how they played today,” said Rob Israel, a senior captain. “Since our preseason meeting in early March, myself and [fellow senior captains Justin Pace and Alex Bueno] set the goals for this season—one of them being to win SCCs. We stressed the goals in practice every day and, ultimately, we were able to accomplish one of them.”
Israel, Pace, and freshman Josh Israel made the All-SCC Team for the Tigers, while undefeated junior Noah Gulla was named the SCC Tournament’s Most Outstanding Player. Pace, Josh Israel, Gulla, and junior Max Thompson all notched wins on the singles side versus Amity in the final. Doubles victories came from the tandems of Rob Israel and freshman Reilly Vejar, Bueno and sophomore Darby Rogers, along with junior Nick Chieppo and sophomore James Watkins.
“After last year’s loss to Prep in the finals, we were disappointed, so taking back the trophy is great,” said Pace. “From the beginning of the year, Rob, Alex, and myself wanted to make sure we didn’t have that same experience of losing again. All of the players worked really hard this year, and I am very proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish as a team.”
Pace faced Brett Gloria of Amity (16-3) in the No. 1 singles match. He took the first set 6-1, before finishing off a straight-sets victory with a 6-2 win in the second. At No. 2 singles, Josh Israel faced off against Zach Brocklehurst and cruised to a 6-0, 6-0 decision. Gulla posted a 6-0, 6-1 win over Ben Schiff at No. 3 singles, and Thompson grinded out a 6-2, 6-4 victory versus Arthur Lihar at No. 4.
Moving to doubles, Israel and Vejar took on Marco Delsanto and Henry Molot at the top spot. The tandem lost the opener 7-5, but then won the second set 6-2. Amity’s tandem was unable to continue in the third set, sealing a victory for Israel and Vejar. In the No. 2 duel, Bueno and Rogers matched up with Chris Bullers and Andrew Johnson and scored a 7-5, 7-5 triumph. Chieppo and Watkins capped off the shutout for the Tigers by defeating Ira Einbinder and Vince Li 6-1, 6-2 at No. 3 doubles.
“It’s a great feeling to take the title back, and it was nice to have the year to work hard and get it back,” said Head Coach Dawn Fagerquist. “Our senior captains were amazing this year. They took control of the boys. We had 16 boys that pulled together and the top 10 guys in our lineup played like a team. They were prepared physically and mentally.”
In the semis, Hand received victories from Pace (6-3, 6-0), Josh Israel (6-2, 6-0), Gulla (6-0, 6-1), and Thompson (6-3, 6-1), along with the doubles teams of Rob Israel and Vejar (7-5, 3-6, 6-0); Bueno and Rogers (6-4, 5-7, 6-3); and Chieppo and Watkins (6-2, 4-6, 6-4).
It was only fitting that Hand’s road back to SCC supremacy went through two of the Tigers’ most familiar adversaries in Fairfield Prep and Amity.
“We played well versus Prep. We beat them 6-1 and then 4-3 at home in the regular season, but in the semis, the boys were on fire,” Fagerquist said. “The first time we played Amity, they were passionate about their play and their attitude was awesome. We kept our lineup the same the second time around, but the tenacity and focus were still there.
The Tigers still have unfinished business as they are playing in this week’s Class L State Championship, where they were the runner-up last year. The Tigers’ 20-0 record is certainly a feather in their cap, but they also want to flip the script at states this season, just like they did for SCCs.
“20-0 is an awesome feeling, and it was different this year. With the weather, we had weird practice times and court time inside, but they were willing to work this year,” said Coach Fagerquist. “We are looking good for states. We are trying to figure out the other schools playing, but we have to just stay focused and stay grounded.”
Along with those who competed in the SCC final, Hand’s roster also features senior Mickey Glazier; juniors Kevin Li, Rob Sweet, and Dan Vincent; plus sophomores Ryan Hennessey and Christian Northrup.