Photo of Sam Crisman courtesy of Sandra Hsieh
Tennis:
Thanks to Maranatha tennis for this report:
Playing their third match in three days, the Minutemen were glad to come home (the last 2 were nearly an hour away) for their final match of what they called “the gauntlet.”
Though sore, worn, and without one of their starters, their aim was to play their best tennis of the week today; and they would need every bit of their best if they were to stay close with the Wolves.
The Wolves have arguably the best singles lineup in the Coastal League.
Couple that with a crop of talented freshmen, and the Minutemen knew that it would be an uphill battle.
Despite starting the match 3-0 due to Wildwood being unable field a third doubles team today, they learned from yesterday’s 9-9 (88-76) win over CAMS that every game counts, even in losses, in case the match ends in a 9-9 tie.
In the first round, the Minutemen showed heart, fighting for every point, and were able to even the score at 3-3, thanks to an upset win by No. 2 singles, Reggie Park, 6-4, over the Wolves’ No. 2. No. 1 doubles, Nate Schumann/Russell Sze dominated their opening set, 6-2.
In the second round, Park would face the league’s reigning singles champion, who was undefeated in league matches last season.
After defeating Maranatha’s No. 1, Cherif Sauma, 6-0, in the first round, his nagging injury continued to worsen against Park.
Park was able to remain focused and play his best tennis, as situations like that can be very tricky to navigate.
Park pulled off an even bigger upset, prevailing, 6-4.
The win pulled the Minutemen to within two after the 2nd round, as the Wolves held a 7-5 lead.
The third round saw Schumann/Sze pull out a 7-5 win, while Sauma also scored an upset over Wildwood’s No. 2 singles, 6-3.
Where the match turned was when No. 3 doubles, Sam Crisman/Wesley Schwartz played the Wolves’ No. 1 doubles to a 1-1 tie, before one of the Wolves suffered a sprained ankle, forfeiting the set, and ensuring at least a 9-9 tie.
It’s quite possible that Crisman/Schwartz might have won that set anyway, but that “sealed the deal” for the Minutemen.
With the win, the Minutemen (6-2 overall; 3-0 in league) move into a tie for 1st place in league with Geffen Academy/UCLA. The Wolves (3-2 overall; 2-2 in league) fall to 3rd place.
Up next: The Minutemen will be a clash of league unbeatens, as they travel to UCLA on Tuesday to face the heavily favored Bruins of Geffen Academy/UCLA, the reigning league champions who haven’t lost a league match since 2022, when Maranatha shared the league title with them.
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