Shane Ball
The Broncos Boys Tennis Team has stepped down to Division II this season due to current enrollment at Alvirne High School. The team hopes to benefit from the upcoming change in competition.
Four of the 11 boys on the roster are returning players. This includes junior Sam Hergenhahn, senior Sean Mendes, senior Owen Surprenant, and sophomore Samanyu Kudikala.
After a 7-7 regular season last year, the Broncos would fall to Dover in the first round of the Division I State tournament. As stated by head coach Colin Stone, the team’s main goal this season is to make it back to the state tournament.
One personal goal for Hergenhahn, the team’s #1 last year as a sophomore, is to make it into the individual tournament in singles. He also hopes to reach the doubles tournament with his partner, Owen Surprenant.
The boys have been working hard at practice, preparing for the new competition this season.
The team started their season off on Monday, April 7 with a showing they could only go up from. Hollis-Brookline was all business in the 9-0 shutout they put up against Alvirne. The Broncos looked to bounce back just two days later against Milford.
Luckily, they put on a good show for fans in their first outing on their home court Wednesday.
The Broncos won four out of six singles matches. Sam Hergenhahn took down opponent Will Emerson 8-2. Sean Mendes won 8-4 against his opponent, Brady O’Connor. Owen Surprenant and Christian Figueiredoput each put on strong 8-1 outings against their opponents.
The Broncos won all three of their doubles matches in this game. Hergenhahn and Surprenant teamed up for an 8-3 win. Fitzpatrick and Mendes won their match with a score of 8-4. The final doubles match, and the highlight of the day, featured Samanyu Kudikala and Christian Figueiredo. The two started this match off slow in what looked like might be a defeat as they trailed opponents Huselyn Alperen and Ryan Lewis 5-2. The two would then find their groove and only allow one more point to their opponent on their way to an 8-6 win. Kudikala’s serving stood out as his three aces helped secure that victory.
The Broncos capped their week on Friday with a 3-6 loss to Merrimack. Hergenhahn was the lone Bronco to win a solo match in this game. He beat his opponent Mikhail Agapov 8-3.
The team put on a stronger showing in the doubles matches, winning in two of the three games. Hergenhahn and Surprenant won their doubles match 8-5. Kudikala and Figueredo put on the strongest performance of the day with an 8-2 victory.
The Broncos are scheduled for a three-game homestand next week as they take on Kennet, Souhegan, and Kingswood.