Methacton locks up third straight team title
PHOENIXVILLE >> Both Methacton and Phoenixville used Monday afternoon’s Pioneer Athletic Conference boys tennis league finale as a test of strength.
The Warriors proved again to be the best the PAC-10 has to offer.
On a splendid day weather-wise, Methacton completed a perfect 8-0 run through the circuit with a 7-0 victory over Phoenixville at the Leo J. Scoda Tennis Courts Monday afternoon.
Seniors Nick Simeone, Hari Santhanan and Jack Hilles completed a singles sweep for the Warriors, which won their third straight league title, against the Phantoms (5-3).
The match also served as a tune-up for this weekend’s PAC-10 Singles tournament, which is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Perkiomen Valley.
But the day also featured numerous tight, hotly contested three-set matches and close games and big points made throughout all of the matches.
“There was some really good competition,” said Jill Walker, who is in her fifth season as the Methacton head coach. “There were a lot of three-setters. It was a good warmup for the weekend singles.”
Simeone and Phantom junior Mike Ellis had one of the best matches of the day at first singles. Ellis took the first set 6-3 before Simeone rallied to win the second set 6-3 and the match with a 7-5 win in the decisive third set.
“I tried to pass him because he had a very good net game,” said Simeone. “My lobs were pretty good. I had consistency. I let him make the mistakes that would allow me to win.”
Simeone has taken over the No. 1 spot for the Warriors because of an injured arm suffered by junior Subhanik Purkayastha after starting the season in the No. 2 spot.
Simeone, who is headed for Arcadia University to continue his tennis career, is also part of a quality Methacton tennis family. His older sister, Lauren, played No. 1 singles for the Warriors and was a PAC-10 Singles championship before graduating in 2014. Lauren is now playing club tennis while studying at Temple University. The two players also spend time facing off against each other in matches.
Their mother, Karen Simeone, is a longtime tennis advocate and is now the assistant coach for the Warriors. She also competes in mother-daughter and mother-son matches with her children.
“I started playing every day from the beginning of March until the end of April,” said Nick Simeone, who had some ice on his injured wrist and elbow after the match. “I don’t take any days off. I play matches with my sister or take some tennis lessons. I belong at Kinetix and Frog Hollow, but I usually get private lessons at the high school.”
At second singles, Santhanan won a three-set match over sophomore Graham Light. Santhanan won by scores of 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-1.
At third singles, Hilles took a 6-4, 6-1 victory over sophomore Joe Vaile.
Methacton has built its recent dynasty on doubles dominance, which held true Monday.
At No. 1 doubles, Krishna Surgesh and Harsha Santhonam def. Chris Lehning and Aris Poloway 6-1, 6-7, 6-2; at No. 2 doubles, Alan Shen and Matt Zhang downed Eric Nascari/Nick DeLuca 6-3, 6-0; at No. 3, Debanik Purkayastha and Max Markowitz topped Daniel So and James Peterson 7-6 (4), 6-3; at No. 4, Dillan Garret and Saket Gokhale stopped Shawn Fowler and Luke Morris 6-3, 6-4.
But Phoenixville second-year head coach Ryan Curley and his assistant, Stacey Dreyer, continue to be pleased with the improvement and high caliber of play his youthful netmen are playing in every match throughout the season.
“We are going to have the winning record,” said Curley. “I don’t mind losing close matches while they learn the game. Our guys are young this year. We have had a lot of character matches. Next year we will be in this position again, and we’ll be good to go. Essentially, this is the team that is going to be coming back next year. This gives them incentive.”
Phoenixville celebrated Senior Day for two senior players, first doubles player Aris Poloway and Rodrigo Campos. Poloway teamed with junior Christian Lehning at the first doubles spot, and they dropped a three-set match to the Warriors’ Krishna Suraesh, a sophomore, and Harsha Santhanan, a freshman.
Poloway, a two-year varsity player, was escorted by his parents, Flora and David, will attend Northeastern University to major in computer science and physics.
Campos is a four-year member of the team. He was escorted by his mother, Leticia.
Campos will attend Goldey-Beacom College to major in criminal justice and international studies.
