Staples Wreckers Boys Tennis

Staples 5 New Canaan 2
5/17/2012

Singles
1.  Jake Hirschberg (S) def. Nick Laub (N)  6-1,2-6,6-1
2.  Will Burger (N) def. Graham Hyman (S)  6-1,6-3
3.  Tommy Worcester (N) def. Josh Moskovitz (S)  6-0,6-1
4.  Connor Mitnick (S) def. Devin McVeigh (N)  6-2,2-6,6-2
5.  Jack Reardon (S) def. Tim Casavant (N)  7-5,6-2
Doubles
1.  Steve Thomson / Zack Levin (S) def. Patrick Newton / Jacob Reiss (N)  7-5,2-6,6-3
2.  Evan Davis / Baxter Stein (S) def. Luke McDermott / Andrew Penchuk (N)  6-3,6-0
Match order of finish: 3S, 2S,5S,1S,4S,1D(clinching match),2D

Recap
Despite losing the first two matches, the Staples boys tennis team fought back to defeat New Canaan, 5-2, and clinch the #2 seed in what looks to be a very interesting FCIAC tournament. With the win, Staples finishes their season at 15-1 in conference play, while New Canaan falls to 13-3 in 2012. First off the court was New Canaan’s #3 singles player, Tommy Worcester, who used his strength to his advantage in a 6-0, 6-1 victory over his Staples counterpart, Josh Moskovitz. New Canaan increased its lead with a win at #2 singles, when Will Burger defeated Staples’ Graham Hyman, 6-1, 6-3.

Down 4-0 in the first set, Staples’ Jack Reardon dug himself out of a hole to defeat New Canaan’s Tim Casavant at #5 singles, 7-5, 6-2. After splitting matches with him last year, Staples’ Jake Hirschberg used his team’s momentum and a strong third set to defeat Colgate bound senior, Nick Laub, 6-1, 2-6, 6-1, and tie the overall match score at two apiece. Soon after Connor Mitnick gave Staples the lead with a 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 victory over New Canaan’s Devin McVeigh at #4 singles, the #1 doubles team of Steve Thomson and Zack Levin gave Staples the victory, beating the duo of Patrick Newton and Jacob Reiss in a three set thriller, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. Once the match was clinched, Staples’ second doubles team of Evan Davis and Baxter Stein defeated New Canaan’s Luke McDermott and Andrew Penchuk, 6-3, 6-0 to secure Staples’ 5-2 victory.

Staples plays #7 Seed Fairfield Ludlowe (there was a three-way tie for sixth place with Warde and Darien – Darien won #6 seed on coin tosses and Ludlowe won #7 place having beaten Warde head-to-head) at home in the first round of FCIAC’s, while New Canaan has a tough match against Westhill, also at home.

– by contributing writer Luke Foreman

Click here for westportnews coverage

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More photos are available under PHOTOS tab.

Next Match:
Monday, May 21 – FCIAC Quarterfinals at home vs. #7 Ludlowe (Time TBD)
Tuesday, May 22 – FCIAC Semis (at Staples vs #3 Ridgefield/#6 Darien at Westport if Staples wins Monday)
Thurs, May 24 – FCIAC finals at Wilton (if rain indoors at Shippan, Stamford)

STAPLES 7 TRINITY 0
5/14/2012

Singles
1. Baxter Stein (S) def. James Shea (T) 6-1,6-0
2. Jack Reardon (S) def. Will Lovallo (T) 6-0,6-0
3. Steve Thomson (S) def. Ricky Heer (T) 6-0,6-0
4. Evan Davis (S) def. Tim Sugrue (T) 6-0,6-0
5. Jason Chaskin (S) def. Mario Paredes (T) 6-0,6-0
Doubles
1. Brian Saunders / Max Berger (S) def. Henri Johna / Jack Farrell (T) 6-0,6-0
2. Jared Eisenberg / Griffin Haymes (S) def. Christian Fuentes / Jon Ulloa (T) 6-1,6-0

Next Match:
Regular Season Finale
Tuesday, home vs New Canaan.

Playoff picture:  Top eight teams qualify for playoffs.
Greenwich need only to split with Darien and Westhill to be guaranteed the #1 seed, as they have already beaten Staples, Ridgefield, and New Canaan.  Staples beat Westhill 4-3 and faces New Canaan this week.  Ridgefield beat both Westhill and New Canaan by identical 4-3 scores.  If Staples beats New Canaan, Staples will be the #2 seed, Ridgefield the #3 seed, and New Canaan the #4 seed.  If New Canaan beats Staples, a coin toss will most likely determine the #2, #3, and #4 positions.  Westhill, Warde, Darien, and Ludlowe  are in the driver’s seat for the last four seeds, although Wilton is still technically alive for a playoff spot.  Top eight teams qualify for playoffs.

STAPLES  7 DARIEN  0
5/11/2012 (Completion of 5/9/12 Match interrupted by rain)

Singles
1.  Jake Hirschberg (S) def. Ryo Usami (D)  6-2,6-0
2.  Graham Hyman (S) def. Alex Swords (D)  6-3,6-2
3.  Josh Moskovitz (S) def. Cal Kevorkian (D)  4-4 ret.
4.  Connor Mitnick (S) def. Briton Dailey (D)  6-0,6-2
5.  Baxter Stein (S) def. Charlie Khachian (D)  6-0,6-1
Doubles
1.  Steve Thomson / Zack Levin (S) def. DJ Brown / Dominic Hansford (D)  6-3,7-5
2.  Evan Davis / Jack Reardon (S) def. Jeff Sload / Nick Howe (D)  6-5 ret.

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

STAPLES  4 WESTHILL  3
5/10/2012

Singles
1.  Brandon Pomerance def. Jake Hirschberg (S)  6-1,2-6,7-6(9)
2.  Danny Soifer def. Graham Hyman (S)  4-6,7-6(6),6-1
3.  Josh Moskovitz (S) def. Miles Singer   6-0,7-5
4.  Prashant Toteja def. Zack Levin (S) 6-3,6-4
5.  Connor Mitnick (S) def. Alex Romaine   6-2,6-1
Doubles
1.  Steve Thomson / Baxter Stein (S) def.  Nick Morelli / Connor Chiusano   6-0,6-1
2.  Evan Davis / Jack Reardon (S) def. Matt Frederick / Josh Friedman   6-0,6-1

Recap
After a grueling afternoon of strong tennis play, the Staples Wreckers defeated the Westhill Vikings by a tight score of 4-3. The Wreckers are now 12-1 on the year, while Westhill adds only its second tally to the loss column, dropping to 10-2 in 2012.

First off the court was the Staples #1 doubles tandem of Steve Thomson and Baxter Stein, who beat their Westhill counterparts, Nick Morelli and Connor Chiusano, 6-0, 6-1. Shortly thereafter, Staples’ Connor Mitnick finished his match, defeating Westhill’s Alex Romaine at #5 singles, 6-2, 6-1. Westhill came back strong, however, getting on the board with Prashant Toteja’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over freshman Zack Levin. With the team up 2-1, freshman Josh Moskovitz fought off a tough opponent and a strong comeback attempt, defeating Westhill’s Miles Singer at #4 singles, 6-0, 7-5. Clinching the match for the Wreckers was their #2 doubles team of Jack Reardon and Evan Davis, who won 6-0, 6-1 over the Westhill team of Matt Frederick and Josh Friedman. With the outcome already determined, Westhill took the #1 and #2 singles matches, when Brandon Pomerance defeated Jake Hirschberg in a three set battle, 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(9), and Danny Soifer came back to beat Graham Hyman, 4-6, 7-6(6), 6-1.

Next up for Staples is their rain-delayed match against Darien at home, while Westhill has a tough match against the Ridgefield Tigers, also at home.

– by contributing writer Luke Foreman

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More photos are available under PHOTOS tab.

Remaining Regular Season Matches:
Fri., 5/11 Continuation of Daren Match at Staples

Mon., 5/14 Trinity away at Scalzi Park [Directions]
Tennis-Scalzi Park in Stamford. Take Rte. 95 to Exit 7-Atlantic Street. Go straight at end of exit until the road ends. Go right at light. Follow for approximately 1 1/2 miles to traffic light at intersection with Bridge Street. Go left onto Bridge Street. Entrance to park is on the left.

Tue., 5/15 New Canaan at Staples

Staples 7 Norwalk 0
5/3/2012

Singles
1. Jack Reardon (S) def. Alex Libre (N) 6-1,6-3
2. Baxter Stein (S) def. Matt Mason (N) 6-0,6-0
3. Jason Chaskin (S) def. Kenji Hosokawa (N) 6-1,6-1
4. Jake Smith (S) def. Dylan Morsanutto (N) 6-0,6-0
5. Staples win by default
Doubles
1. Steve Thomson / Evan Davis (S) def. Nic Tejada / Frantzer Michel (N) 6-0,6-0
2. Brian Saunders / Jared Eisenberg (S) def. Steve Gasparini / Matt Favazzo (N) 6-0,6-0

Greenwich 5 Staples 2
5/2/2012

Singles
1. Tyler Kratky (G) def. Jake Hirschberg (S) 6-2,6-1
2. Zack Niklaus (G) def. Graham Hyman (S) 6-2,6-4
3. Blake Niehaus (G) def. Josh Moskovitz (S) 6-0,6-3
4. Tatsuya Taskaki (G) def. Baxter Stein (S). 6-2,7-5
5. Ari Cepelewich (G) def. Connor Mitnick (S) 6-3,1-6,7-6(5)
Doubles
1. Steve Thomson / Zack Levin (S) def. Mike Grund / CJ Purse (G) 6-4,6-4
2. Evan Davis / Jack Reardon (S) def. Louis McKenzie / Shaw Speer (G) 6-4,6-4
Match order of finish: 1S, 2S,2D,1D,3S,4S(clinching match),5S

Match Recap
After a thrilling 2011, Greenwich and Staples met again in a matchup between the two best tennis teams in the state. This time, however, Greenwich emerged victorious, avenging for their loss to Staples in the 2012 state finals. Greenwich raised their record to 9-0, while Staples suffered their first loss of the season, dropping to 10-1 in FCIAC play.

At #1 singles, Greenwich’s Tyler Kratky defeated Jake Hirschberg, 6-2, 6-1. Kratky is arguably the top player in the state, and is the favorite to bring home the class LL state championship later this spring. Greenwich also took the second and third singles spots, when Zack Nicklaus defeated Graham Hyman 6-2, 6-4, and Blake Niehaus beat Josh Moskovitz, 6-0, 6-3. However, Staples stayed in the match with their solid doubles play. At #1 doubles, big serving helped Steve Thomson and Zach Levin defeat their Greenwich counterparts, Mike Grund and CJ Purse, 6-4, 6-4. At #2 doubles, Evan Davis and Jack Reardon kept Staples alive with a solid 6-4, 6-4 victory over Louis McKenzie and Shaw Speer. With Greenwich leading the match 3-2, Tatsuya Tasaki clinched it for the Cardinals, coming back from 5-2 down in the second set to defeat Staples’ Baxter Stein at #4 singles, 6-2, 7-5. With the match already over, Ari Cepelewich beat Connor Mitnick in a 3 set battle, winning 6-3, 1-6, 7-6(5).

Next up for Greenwich is Ridgefield, while Staples travels to Norwalk to face off against the Bears.

— by contributing writer Luke Foreman

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More photos are available under PHOTOS tab.

Update: For Online article click here

Upcoming Matches:
Thu., 5/3 Norwalk Away – Norwalk High School

Staples 7 Trumbull 0
4/30/2012

Singles
1.  Jake Hirschberg (S) def. Erik Flack (T)  6-2,6-0
2.  Graham Hyman (S) def. Jesse Rubinstein (T)  6-2,6-1
3.  Zack Levin (S) def. Aarya Shenoi (T)  6-3,6-1
4.  Baxter Stein (S) def. Adam Carron (T)  6-0,6-0
5.  Connor Mitnick (S) def. Jason Elias (T)  6-0,6-0
Doubles
1.  Evan Davis / Jack Reardon (S) def. Tyler Davis / Andrew Vojt (T)  6-1,6-1
2.  Jake Smith / Jason Chaskin (S) def. Ian Matz / Aabhas Wadhwa (T)  6-0,6-0

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

More photos are available under PHOTOS tab.

Upcoming Matches:
Tue., 5/1 Undefeated Greenwich Away – GHS Tennis Courts
Thu., 5/3 Norwalk Away – Norwalk High School

Matches to be made up:

• Norwalk vs Trinity (suspended match) – could be postponed until Thursday May 17 or Monday May 21 if necessary – does not affect playoffs
• Ridgefield vs Wilton
• St Joseph vs Wilton

4/27/12
Staples 7
St. Joseph’s 0

Singles
1.  Evan Davis (S) def. J.P. Gschwind (SJ)  6-0,6-0
2.  Jason Chaskin (S) def. Logan Bruneau (SJ)  6-1,6-0
3.  Jake Smith (S) def. Alex Li (SJ)  6-1,6-0
4.  Brian Saunders (S) def. Chris Lucy (SJ)  6-0,6-0
5.  Jared Eisenberg (S) def. Zack Usinger (SJ)  6-0,6-0
Doubles
1.  Max Berger / Jackson Ullman (S) def. Matt Vazzano / Michael Grasso (SJ)  6-2,6-2
2.  Griffin Haymes / Jason Blankfein (S) def. Chris Farens / Edward Lockwood (SJ)  6-2,6-0

Upcoming Matches:
Mon., 4/30 Trumbull Home – Staples HS-Tennis Courts
Tue., 5/1 Greenwich Away – GHS Tennis Courts
Thu., 5/3 Norwalk Away – Norwalk High School