Cheverus 3
Windham 2
The previously unbeaten Windham boys’ tennis team was ousted in an upset in the semifinals by Cheverus, 3-2 on Saturday. The Eagles got wins from No. 3 singles player Dan McGovern and their No. 1 doubles pair. All the matches were close, but in the end, the Stags had a better day.
Cheverus’ top singles player, Andrew Gleason, topped Windham’s Nate Johnson in straight sets. Gleason earned a 6-3, 6-2 win over Johnson to earn one of the three points for the Stags.
In No. 2 singles, Chris Lavoie won a hard-fought match over Windham’s Dan Crocker. Lavoie took the match in straight sets, but it wasn’t easy. Lavoie won 6-4, 6-3.
One of Windham’s match wins came at No. 3 singles. Dan McGovern earned a 6-4, 6-1 win over Cheverus’ Will Lenk.
Windham’s No. 1 doubles pair of Kurt Stultz and Nick Rallis, who recently earned their second straight SMAA doubles title, picked up another point for the Eagles. Rallis and Stultz defeated the Cheverus pair of Eliot Coates and Evan Cianchette in straight set, 6-4, 6-2. Rallis and Stultz avenged a regular season loss to Cianchette and Coates.
Conner Shoos and Tom Mourmouras of Cheverus outlasted Windham’s tough No. 2 doubles combination of Kyle Morrell and Fernando Leon-Prado, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.
The Eagles season ended short of their goal but it was a successful season nonetheless. The Eagles are a young team and should be contenders again this time next year.
Windham earned their spot in the semifinals with a convincing 5-0 win over South Portland on June 5.
Windham grabbed the day’s first point in the No. 2 doubles match. The pair of Fernando Leon-Prado and Kyle Morrell defeated South Portland’s Keegan Hyland and Bryce McOsker in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1. The first set was a battle from beginning to end. The Eagles duo won the first game and the teams swapped games for the remainder of the set until Leon-Prado and Morrell had the win.
The second set went much more smoothly for Windham’s pair. They took an early 4-1 lead in the set and cruised to a 6-1 win to take their match and a 1-0 lead in the overall points.
Shortly after that match ended, the Eagles picked up their second point. Dan Crocker made quick work of his opponent, Tanner Burgdorf. Crocker won the match, 6-0, 6-0.
Windham took their third point and clinched the match when Dan McGovern finished off Corey Doucette. McGovern cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win. McGovern never trailed in his match and the win sent the Eagles to the semifinals.
No. 1 doubles was the fourth match to end with Windham’s Kurt Stultz and Nick Rallis besting South Portland’s Aiden Boyce and Mark O’Donnell, 6-2, 6-4. Stultz and Rallis took the first set 6-2 after pulling away. The second set was much tighter. Rallis and Stultz won five straight games before Boyce and O’Donnell bounced back to take four in a row. But the Eagle held on for the win.
No. 1 singles was the last match of the day and Windham’s Nate Johnson came away with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Nick Lagios. Both sets were a battle. Johnson took the early lead each time, but couldn’t put Lagios away. Eventually he wore Lagios down and won the match.
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