Champions crowned in 14th Annual Geoffrey Walter Jr. Tennis Tournament

Showcase held for the 26th straight year overall at the Dobbin Courts at WMHS

Published in the August 30, 2016 edition

WAKEFIELD — Twenty-five players competed in many impressive and enthusiastic tennis matches this past weekend at the beautiful Dobbins Courts at Wakefield Memorial High School in the Geoffrey Walter Junior Tennis Tournament.

Blue skies and bright sunshine were the backdrop for this 26th annual event, with champions crowned in five age brackets. This is the 14th year the tournament has been named in memory of Geoffrey Walter.

Boys’ 12 & Under

Although there were fewer entries in this bracket than in recent years, the seven players (four veterans and three rookies) combined for some exciting matches.

In Saturday morning’s first round action, defending champ Luke Greif took up where he left off last year by rolling over rookie Cameron Jaena 6-0, 6-0.

Tournament veteran Johnny Whitson drew newcomer Justin Carino. The two players were evenly matched with many games going to deuce, including one eight deuce game won by Carino. It wasn’t enough though and Whitson prevailed 6-4, 6-4 in two long sets.

Max Cusack, also a tourney veteran, defeated rookie Vincent Kaddaras 6-1, 6-0.

Ben Palmer, a finalist from last year, moved into the second round when his first opponent was unable to play.

In the second round, Greif continued his streak with a 6-0, 6-3 win over Whitson while Palmer dispatched Cusack 6-0, 6-1.

The Sunday morning final was a rematch of last year’s quarterfinal between Greif and Palmer. Greif was again able to better Palmer, this time by a 6-1, 6-1 score. The players were more evenly matched than the final score shows with the match featuring excellent ground strokes and great court coverage by both players.

In consolation play, Whitson bettered Cusack 10-7 in a Pro Set format in a rematch of last year’s consolation match to win third place. In other action, Jaena faced off against Kaddaras with Jaena taking a hard-fought 6-3, 7-5 win. Carino showed an improved game from Saturday’s action in a 6-2, 6-0 victory over another tournament rookie, Jack Morris.

Boys’ 14 & Under

The Boys’ 14 and Under bracket featured six veterans and again featured some of the tournament’s best matches between three top-tier rivals, Jack Palmer, Lucas Smith and Noah Greif, who are each moving up to the high school this fall.

In the first round, lefty Zack Goff moved up to the U14 bracket and beat the smooth strokes of Ian Schermerhorn 6-3, 6-4.

Palmer bettered the sturdy play of Danny Hurley 6-0, 6-1.

Another lefty, Smith beat Brett Butler 6-0, 6-1 while defending champion, Greif, had a bye.

In the semifinals, Greif started his march toward a third consecutive championship with a 6-0, 6-1 win over Goff. In the other semifinal match, Smith wore down Palmer in a 7-5, 6-2 victory in an exciting match.

Grief and Smith faced off against each other for the third straight year in Sunday morning’s final. The rematch of last year’s final went Grief’s way again in a 7-6 (5-1), 6-2 win. The first set was neck and neck throughout as the players traded games. Smith took the first point in the tiebreaker before Grief took command with five straight points to take the set. From there Grief’s consistent play was too much for Smith. As in their previous matches, each game featured long rallies and excellent shot-making by both players.

In consolation action, Goff bettered Butler 8-6 in a Pro Set.

Girls’ 14 & Under

Four girls competed in this year’s 14 and Under bracket with the final being a rematch of last year’s 12 and Under bracket.

In the semifinals, Olivia Goff outdid the spirited Abby Boudreau 6-2, 6-1 and Laura Sweeney used outstanding court coverage to prevail over Hannah Guay 6-3, 6-3.

In the finals, Goff got off to a quick start to take the first set at 6-2. Sweeney attempted to mount a comeback in the second set but the determined Goff proved too tough and held on to take the match with a 6-4 win in the second set.

Guay came out on top 6-0, 6-1 over Boudreau to take the consolation prize.

Girls’ High School

The high school girl’s group lost three major players this year with Grace Hurley, Sarah Stumpf and Mollybeth Whitson all graduating as members of the class of 2016. In addition, all three were past winners of the Geoffrey Walter Sportsmanship Award.

This year’s group attracted only two entrants with Haley Tanner taking this year’s crown in straight sets over Caroline Hurley. In the first set, Tanner’s improved game from last year overpowered Hurley as she took the set at 6-0. Hurley tried to climb back into the match in the second set but Tanner stayed in control and took the match 6-3.

Boys’ High School

Four tournament veterans and one newcomer battled in this year’s Boys’ HS bracket.

In a play-in match, first-time entrant Colin Lamusta took on Jonathan Stumpf and prevailed in a 6-1, 6-1 victory.

In the first semifinal match, HS tennis team co-captain and this year’s Sportsmanship winner, Zach Covelle, faced off against Tim Hurley. The rematch of last year’s action went Covelle’s way again, this time by a 6-0, 6-0 score.

The other semifinal was the toughest match of this year’s tournament. HS tennis team co-captain and defending HS Boys’ champion James Hanron and Lamusta battled for three hours under a scorching afternoon sun. Hanron took the first set 7-5 and looked poised to take the second set before Lamusta got a second wind late in the set. Hanron had a chance to serve for the set at 5-4, but Lamusta held tough and went on to take the set 7-5. Lamusta got the win when Hanron was unable to return for the third set due to the heat.

Lamusta completed his rookie outing with another tough battle, this time against Covelle. Lamusta took the first set in a tiebreaker and then wore down Covelle in the second set for 7-6 (8-6), 6-1 win.

In the consolation round, Hanron bettered Stumpf 8-3 in a Pro Set format.

Sportsmanship Award

Each year the Geoffrey Walter Tournament is proud to have a field filled with excellent competitors and many examples of sportsmanship. The tournament committee was proud to award Zach Covelle the Sportsmanship Trophy this year. This is Covelle’s second year in the tournament, both times a finalist, and during this time has consistently played at a high level with composure, good humor and fairness.

Net Notes

A special thanks goes out to The Savings Bank, the primary sponsor of the Geoffrey Walter Jr. Tennis Tournament.

The committee wishes to thank the T-Stop for its tremendous work on the tournament T-shirts and Janet and Joe DeGuglielmo for their popular contribution of slush, a welcome refreshment over the warm weekend.

The success of the weekend was made possible by all of these donations.

Special thanks were extended once again to the Callahan clan who graciously supplied the now-traditional ‘Breakfast at Dobbins’ French Toast as well as a delicious coffee cake to the rave reviews of the Sunday morning crowd.

There was again a terrific turnout of many members of the Wakefield tennis community supporting this tournament including local tennis legend Pat Zagaria and Bear Hill coach Balty Galloway.

The WMHS freshman class is getting three solid players moving up from the Boys’ 14 and Under bracket in Jack Palmer, Lucas Smith and Noah Grief. This bodes well for the WMHS boys’ tennis team.

There are three winning streaks currently being watched by the Wakefield Tennis community. Noah Grief is unbeaten since the 2013 U12 Boys’ finals (three years), his brother Luke is unbeaten in the tournament (two years) and Olivia Goff is unbeaten since the 2014 U12 Girls’ finals (two years).

Thanks are extended to the many families who have supported the event since it began and those who have been part of the last 14 years, creating a terrific weekend of tennis honoring Geoffrey Walter’s memory.

This weekend’s superhero sightings on the courts included Captain America and Superman. Also sighted visiting the tournament was Selectman Peter May.