Anthony Ragone filled in admirably at second singles. He got invaluable match play experience for a freshman, and will surely return to the 'Classic' next season and be match tough. I gotta say that I was especially proud of Terry Long who was in the 'Zone' when he beat Pennsville's #1 singles player. This was a break through moment for Terry and you could sense he felt it.
Mark played a tough Pennsville opponent and although he didn't win I could see the improvement and sense that Mark will peak at season's end, just as he did in his academics. Both our doubles teams had tough matches against Haddonfield, wherein they dropped the first sets quick, but both fought hard, and it showed in their second set scores. Marcos and Nick went 7-5 and Johnny and Mitch went 6-4. This experience will serve them well when we met at Haddonfield latter this week.
I was so proud of both doubles teams and their showing against my alma mater and my former coach, Mr Holman, which I was privileged to once play for. I think the world of him. It was a pretty cool moment for yours truly, as Mr Holman had been my guidance counselor from 8th grade all the way though high school, in addition to being my tennis coach. He has coached both the boys and girls teams for the past 30 years, and accumulated over 1000 wins between the two programs.
We had our most loyal fans, Mrs Donna Villari, Master Timmy Long and Mrs. Sherry Long who braved the cold with their Flyers Blankets
Terry, Anthony, Nick, Mrs Long, Mrs Villari, Marco
Johnny & Mitch
Johnny and Mitch with Cumberland County in front of them and those thick bushes where tennis balls went to die. I got lost in those bushes looking for quite a few tennis balls.
Mark's technique is improving in front of my camera's eye
Mark, Marco and Nick watch Terry's match
Terry "Too Tall" Long put his foot down against his Pennsville opponent
Marco and Johnny enjoy the action
The great hat that we were all given
The tourney backets tell a good story which I sense is the beginning of a better playoff story. Last season against Cherry Hill West was where we turned the corner and started to soar like the eagles we are. It is ironic that yesterday, against Cherry Hill West, may have been a bit of a low point. HOWEVER!! The next day at Cumberland, the sun initially struggled to come out. In the afternoon the sun finally showed itself and we were all much warmer, on so many levels than we were the day before at West.
