WATERVILLE – Her hands and neck still blue from hair dye applied early Saturday morning at a team breakfast, Falmouth junior Annie Criscione breathed a sigh of relief at having finished off her No. 1 singles tennis match in straight sets amid threatening skies and spatters of rain.
“I know the rest of the team had already won,” Criscione said. “But we have such a streak going. I didn’t want to drop a match.”
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Criscione’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Waterville freshman Colleen O’Donnell closed out a fourth consecutive Class B state title for the Falmouth girls Saturday afternoon at Colby College. The Falmouth girls also ran their winning streak to 57 matches. They finish 16-0 and, for the second straight season, won every match by shutout.
Falmouth’s boys (16-0) weren’t perfect, but they made quick work of Eastern Maine champion Ellsworth (15-1) by sweeping all five matches in under an hour.
“I tried to get off quickly so I didn’t have to play in the rain,” said Falmouth freshman Justin Brogan, first off the court after a 6-0, 6-0 victory.
Senior Taylor Dimick at No. 3 singles was next, winning 6-0, 6-1. Freshman Brendan McCarthy overcame a 3-0 deficit in the second set against Ellsworth’s Dillon Toothaker to clinch the title, 6-1, 6-3.
“The second set was really slippery,” McCarthy said. “I just tried to do what I did in the first set, which was keep the ball in play and go to his backhand because his forehand was quite strong.”
Doubles was more competitive, but Falmouth’s Harlan Cutshall and Sam Holland (6-3, 6-2) at No. 1 and Connor Burfeind and Tom Wilbert (6-2, 6-2) came out on top.
“It was a little slippery out there, not ideal conditions,” said Falmouth Coach Bob McCully, who earned his sixth state title. “I’m glad we got it done. I wouldn’t have wanted to try and come back on Monday.”
Falmouth’s boys also attended the team breakfast, held at the home of junior Analise Kump, who won 6-0, 6-0 at No. 2 singles. Burfeind was the only boy who consented to the hair dye; he played with a large ‘F’ on the back of his head.
In addition to blue-tipped hair, the girls also painted their eyelids with gold glitter to complete the school-color makeover.
“It’s the glitter that makes your eyes pop,” said sophomore Libby Voccola, who won 6-1, 6-0 at No. 3 singles.
Completing yet another eye-popping season for Falmouth was a sweep of the doubles matches, with Abby Payson and Steffi Rothweiler winning 6-1, 6-1 at No. 1 and Katie Carew and Katie Ryan winning 6-0, 6-3 at No. 2.
“It was a great season,” said Falmouth Coach Sandra Stone. “You can’t complain about every match being 5-0.”
Stone also had praise for Waterville (14-2), which started an all-freshman singles lineup and only one senior in doubles.
“I was very impressed with their singles players,” Stone said. “They have some nice little athletes.”
The Criscione-O’Donnell match lasted half an hour longer than the rest, but Criscione said it was worth it. The sun even made a brief appearance about the time the Falmouth boys were hoisting aloft their championship plaque.
“Every state championship has been equally exciting,” Criscione said. “When you get this far and have matches that are close, it’s really rewarding.”
Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:
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