Poor weather can’t stop Warriors from preparing for memorable season

SENIOR CAPTAIN Max South will lead the Wakefield boys’ tennis team in 2018. South will team with Jack Palmer in first doubles. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)

Published in the April 16, 2018 edition.

By DAN PAWLOWSKI

WAKEFIELD — The 2018 WMHS boys’ tennis team didn’t need much court time to find their rhythm this season.

Wakefield managed to find some time to practice indoors but they mostly waited out a couple of early-season postponements as the rain, snow, sleet and whatever else New England decided to unleash, decimated the Dobbins Courts.

It’s been a challenge for many sports at Wakefield High, but tennis is perhaps the most vulnerable.

“All the rain, it’s been awful,” admitted head coach Cheryl Connors. “Mostly for challenge matches because there are only two courts where we practice indoors.”

This means that only two challenge matches and four players can compete at once; a difficult way for all 19 players in the boys’ tennis program to get better.

But even so, Wakefield put those challenges and a tough season-opening loss against powerhouse Lexington behind them, as they have won two straight over Burlington on April 11 (3-2) and Watertown on April 13 (4-1).

The Warriors have two captains this year: senior Max South and junior Johnny Stumpf, two competitors who Connors calls “excellent leaders.”

South plays first doubles with sophomore Jack Palmer. The duo both have plenty of experience and know well the strategy that Wakefield wants to play. South and Palmer have won both of their matches in first doubles against Burlington and Watertown.

Against the Red Devils on April 11, sophomore Noah Greif worked hard to earn a huge win for Wakefield as he topped David Kolifrath 7-6 in the deciding third set after a 7-4 win on the the tie-break. Greif is projected to lead the way at first singles all season for Wakefield.

Martin Tamir beat his Burlington opponent in straight sets (6-1, 6-1) and Palmer and South won an exciting three-set match in first doubles (6-1, 4-6, 6-2) to give Wakefield their first win of the season, 3-2.

Everyone brought it for the Warriors against Watertown on Friday. In first doubles, Palmer and South won in straight sets (6-1, 6-2) as did Wakefield’s second doubles team (6-2, 6-4) which includes Lucas Smith and Joshua Cieniewicz.

“Lucas is a great player, he will do well in doubles,” said Connors. “Joshua has played two years and really improved. They will be a great doubles team for us.”

Greif battled back to win the second set 6-3, after dropping the first set, and although he couldn’t take the third set, it is that type of compete level that the sophomore will need going up against every team’s best player. While Connors does take into account match challenges in practice, she looks for that type of competitiveness among other things when making her lineup for each match.

“I don’t only go by challenge matches,” said Connors. “Many things including mental toughness and consistency all come into play.”

Wakefield was plenty tough against the Raiders as Tamir took second singles in straight sets (6-0, 6-1) and Stumpf came back to win set two and then won a ten-point tiebreaker 10-5, which acted as the third set as they ran out of daylight.

No doubt it was that type mental toughness that kept Wakefield going through all those indoor practices, something that might not be over quite yet. But whether indoors or out, the Warriors will be ready to compete against anyone in the Middlesex League in 2018.