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04/29/2019 12:00 AMThe East Haven boys’ tennis team earned its first victory with new Head Coach Anthony Perrotti last week. The Yellowjackets took care of that business by netting a 5-2 home win versus Platt Tech on April 25. After his squad had lost its first nine matches of the year, getting that first win out of the way was a big-time relief for Perrotti and company.
“It was like a cloud above me, but the win felt great. I think it’s something we worked hard for,” Perrotti said. “It didn’t come as soon as we wanted, but we’ve played a lot of tough opponents. I felt like it was looming over us, but now the guys feel more relaxed, and we’re ready to roll.”
After taking a 7-0 defeat against Hamden on April 23, East Haven defeated Platt Tech by a 5-2 final two days later. Three of the Easties’ victories came in singles matches that went to three sets. Freshman Matt Gaudioso claimed a 7-5, 0-6, 6-4 win at No. 2 singles; junior Marchello DeLucia earned a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory at No. 3 singles; and sophomore Mateusz Wiszniewski rallied for a 6-7 (5-7), 6-4, 7-5 win at the No. 4 singles position.
“It was good for the guys, because I noticed a lot of them rallied together. They were cheering on their teammates and really involved and interested in all the matches,” said Perrotti. “As teammates, you love to see that, because you know the other guys have your back. The guys were definitely excited, and I loved it.”
Perrotti was especially happy to see the maturity of his younger players in those marathon matches. The coach knows that playing three sets is a great way to grow on the tennis court.
“Three-set matches are probably the best thing that happens, because you realize it’s intense. The third set is all business. Nobody wants to play three sets and come out on the losing side,” Perrotti said. “To win is great and really helps the guys. Seeing what I saw helps them realize what they’re working for. To come out on top and win really fires up the guys.”
The Yellowjackets also received victories at the top two doubles spots when they dispatched Platt Tech. East Haven’s top pairing of senior captain Joe Brown and sophomore Matt DiVito prevailed by 6-1, 6-1 score, while the No. 2 duo of junior Fabrizio Bugatti and sophomore Gabriel Olszewski notched a 7-5, 6-0 victory.
Coach Perrotti said that he’s been impressed with the leadership of Brown and fellow senior captain Dan Murtagh, who plays No. 1 singles. Perrotti is pleased with how his captains have taken East Haven’s underclassmen under their wing.
“The captains have been great, knowing it’s a long process. They really care about setting their teammates up for the future and want to work with them and get them better,” said Perrotti. “They know what this team is going to be capable of in a year or two and want to show them the ropes now, so in the following years, they’ll be ready.”
Perrotti feels positive about how his athletes are growing and getting better in every aspect of tennis as the season progresses. While he wants to notch more wins, Perrotti’s primary focus is for the Easties to learn more about the game and have an enjoyable experience on the court.
“Our goal is to win every match, but we also want to go out there and have fun,” Perrotti said. “Our long-tearm goal is to continue to get better. We have to get better every day and continue to work on our skills. If we do that, we’ll be ready for what’s to come.”
From the Sidelines
The East Haven boys’ tennis team’s varsity roster features senior captains Joe Brown and Dan Murtagh; juniors Fabrizio Bugatti, Marchello DeLucia, and Tyler Gnyp; sophomores Matt Battaglino, Matt DiVito, Brian Gonzalea, Oliver Gonzalez, Devon Lopez, Gabriel Olszewski, Minh Trinh, and Mateusz Wizniewski; and freshman Matt Gaudioso.
First-year Head Coach Anthony Perrotti is assisted by former head coach Robert Manghnani this season.
For the rest of this season, East Haven has home matches against Lyman Hall, Guilford, Cross and Foran on it schedule, as well road tilts versus Career, Fairfield Prep, Platt Tech, Sheehan, Law, and Cheshire.