Gorham’s tennis teams were able to locate a patch of dry land Monday and they took full advantage of it.
Playing at USM’s indoor courts because of the rain, the Lady Rams swept visiting Massabesic, while the boys scrimmaged their JV-level opponents.
The Gorham girls dropped just four games en route to the win, with Kelsey Wilson and Kate Bowring each taking their singles match, 6-0, 6-2. Wilson beat Mustangs number one Jodi Abbott, while Bowring topped Melissa Barrett.
“On a personal level that’s a pretty big game for me because I’m on a pretty big losing streak,” said Wilson, a soccer all-star and a good basketball player who picked up tennis just last year. “It’ll build up my confidence a little bit. I feel like I’m improving every match, and I have to keep it up.”
The Rams’ doubles duo of Molly Stelmack and Sally Patterson had little trouble with Massabesic’s Amy Gillingham and Michelle Pierce, topping their guests, 6-0, 6-0. Gorham’s number two doubles tandem, Charlotte Stuart and Amanda Sawyer, also swept their opponents, Kurstyn Smalley and Maggie MacGraw.
“We have to win these next matches to stay higher in the pack,” said coach Sonja Frey. “Class A has been what I’ve thought. We haven’t been blown out 5-0. I love the competitive matches.”
The Rams had won three matches in a row and were ranked second in the Heal points when they ran into top-ranked Windham on May 5, who set Gorham back, 4-1.
Three days later was a meeting with Westbrook. Tied going into the final match, Libby Johnston battled back from a first-set loss and a second-set deficit to force a third set, but couldn’t complete the comeback.
“Libby Johnston is having a great season,” said Frey. “She is 6-2, and mentally and emotionally she’s really doing well.”
The Lady Rams are now 5-4, while the boys are 2-5.
“We lost to the top teams,” said boys coach Viet Ly. “The guys are competing and now we have the bottom half of the schedule coming up, so our record should improve as we go into the playoffs.”
Aaron Bergeron, Mike Ryan and Shaughn Allen are the Rams top three singles players.
“Any given day we have a chance to win,” Ly said. “It will come. It will just take time.”
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