The match before a state championship usually leaves one team disappointed and wondering what could have been.
Not Monday evening. Top-seeded Falmouth and defending state champion Kennebunk battled for three hours before the Navigators pulled out a 3-2 victory that left both coaches smiling.
“Anytime you get to the state finals, it’s a great experience for the kids and I’m very happy for them,” Falmouth Coach Larry Nichols said. “It’s even more special when you have to play a team like Kennebunk, because it was close from start to finish. That’s what you ask for.”
Playing inside at Apex Racket & Fitness in Portland, Falmouth swept both doubles matches and clinched the match when junior Charlotte Williamson completed a 6-2, 6-2 victory over Kennebunk sophomore Emilia Ilyas.
“I felt a lot of anxiety when I’ve played in the past, so I was trying to think as little as possible,” Williamson said. “It was some of the best I’ve played in a while.”
Falmouth’s doubles tandems of Audrey Holland and Jenna Nunley (6-0, 6-1) and Elise Gearan and Gwen Long (6-1, 6-2) staked the Navigators to an early lead.
“Their kids played great, our kids played great, it was good tennis,” Nichols said. “That’s what you hope for.”
Falmouth (15-0) advanced to the state finals Wednesday against Brunswick. No. 3 Kennebunk finishes 13-2.
Sophomore Olivia Cutone at No. 1 and senior Andie Lamontagne at No. 3 won in singles, Cutone rather quickly without dropping a game and Lamontagne in painstaking three-hour fashion, 6-7 (11-9), 6-2, 1-0 (10-8).
“I’m happy for Kennebunk’s season and I’m happy that our kids were able to tough it out against a great opponent,” Nichols said. “We feel fortunate to advance.”
Earlier Monday, top-seeded Greely rolled past No. 2 Lincoln Academy 4-1 by sweeping singles and winning second doubles. The Rangers (15-0) will face Foxcroft Academy (10-5) Wednesday at either Bates College in Lewiston or back inside at Apex, depending on the weather.
Tournament organizers said they will make a venue decision by Tuesday afternoon.
Lincoln Academy (13-2) was the defending state champion, and won only at first doubles.
In a battle of foreign exchange students at No. 1 singles, Greely senior Anne Alfaro (Spain) beat Lincoln Academy junior Sarah Kockzius (Germany). Junior Emma Lindsey (6-0, 6-1) and sophomore Isobel Wright (6-3, 3-6, 1-0 (10-6)) won at second and third singles, respectively.
Greely seniors Ruth Weeks and Chloe Pierce, who share the same June birthday and have been buddies since third grade, delivered the clincher at second doubles, 6-3, 6-2, despite feeling the effects of little sleep following their graduation Sunday.
“Chloe got five hours (Monday) morning and I got four,” Weeks said. “We lacked a lot of finesse that usually comes with being prepared. (Lincoln sophomores Olivia Crooker and Noa Burchesy) were good players as well. They took advantage of our weaknesses, but weaknesses that we don’t usually have if we’re not exhausted.”
Their parents have known each other since high school. Weeks and Pierce first partnered up in middle school and this is their third year as a varsity tandem.
“It’s really nice to be able to at least get to the finals,” Pierce said, “knowing we’re playing with each other, knowing that we won with each other.”
In Class C South, No. 3 Maranacook squeezed past No. 5 Waynflete 3-2 to avenge a regional finals loss from a year ago by the same score. Maranacook (13-2) advances to the state championship Wednesday morning against Washington Academy (14-1).
Waynflete swept the doubles matches in straight sets, with Anna Farmer and Jenny Morrill winning by shutout and Sara Levenson and Elefe Angle by 6-2, 7-5.
The singles went to Maranacook, however, with senior Mary Hatt and junior Cassidy McCormack winning at second and third to make it a 2-2 match decided at No. 1 singles. A year ago, Waynflete’s Lucy Hart beat Claire Dwyer. This time, the sophomore from Maranacook earned a 6-3, 7-5 victory.
“That last match fueled my fire, to see if I could come back and do better than last year,” Dwyer said.
“Waynflete’s been a big rival of ours, so to come here and beat them and go to states for the first time in (five) years, it’s amazing.”
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