Xander Barber, Falmouth senior: Barber blitzed through his first season in Maine, winning the state singles tournament (defeating teammate Sam Yoon in the finals, 6-1, 6-0) and leading the Navigators to a 16-0 record and the Class A state championship. He plans to continue his tennis career at Dartmouth College.
Alberto Cutone, Kennebunk freshman: Playing No. 2 singles, Cutone helped the Rams to a 13-2 record and an appearance in the Class A South final. His only losses came against Falmouth’s Sam Yoon. As the sixth seed in state singles, Cutone knocked off No. 3 Terry Ma, 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals, before falling to Yoon in the semis.
George Cutone, Kennebunk junior: The two-time singles state champion opted out of the individual tournament to play a national event in Georgia. In team play, he avenged his only individual defeat by upsetting Xander Barber 6-3, 6-4 for the only point in a 4-1 loss to Falmouth in the Class A South final.
Quinn Federle, Yarmouth senior: Federle led the Clippers to a 16-0 record and fourth consecutive Class B state title. As the 10th seed in state singles, he advanced to the quarterfinals with a 6-4, 7-6 victory over No. 7 Westy Granholm of MDI before falling 6-3, 7-5 to No. 2 Sam Yoon. Federle will attend the University of Vermont.
Henry Kerr, Waynflete senior: Kerr led the Flyers to a 14-2 record and 15th consecutive Class C state title. Unseeded in state singles, Kerr knocked off No. 9 Max Friedlander of MDI and reached the quarterfinals before falling to No. 1 Xander Barber. Kerr will attend the Colorado School of Mines.
Terry Ma, Thornton Academy sophomore: Ma led the Golden Trojans to an 11-3 mark and the Class A South semifinals. In team competition, he lost only to singles state champions Xander Barber and George Cutone. Seeded third in state singles, Ma reached the quarterfinals before falling to No. 6 Alberto Cutone.
Khang Nguyen, Foxcroft Academy sophomore: Nguyen led the Ponies to a 14-2 record and the Class B state final. He lost only once in team play, to Westy Granholm of MDI. Seeded fourth in state singles, he survived a three-set quarterfinal against unseeded Charles Segal of Greely before falling in the semifinals to No. 1 Xander Barber.
Sam Yoon, Falmouth sophomore: A two-time singles state finalist who hits forehands from each side, Yoon led the Navigators to a 16-0 record and the Class A state championship. He was unbeaten in team competition, 8-0 in the season and 4-0 in playoffs. Seeded No. 2 in state singles, he advanced to the final before falling 6-1, 6-0 to teammate Xander Barber.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Jeff Madore, Waynflete: A repeat selection, Madore guided the Flyers to a 14-2 record, culminating in a 15th consecutive Class C state championship. That victory broke a tie with Old Town boys’ swimming for longest team-sport dynasty in Maine high school sports history. Madore is a master at making practices both interesting and productive, and always includes a dose of competition. (One example is playing H-O-R-S-E by breaking the serving boxes into six smaller segments, and calling your shot.) “The boys win it,” Madore said. “I just keep score.”
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