Members of the Southold High School tennis team equipped with rubber scrapers prepare for Tuesday’s game against Rose.
The Ross School’s victory over Southold High School in a boys’ tennis match was entered in the history books Tuesday afternoon.
However, the first settlers still scored major victories on the field.
An afternoon downpour could delay Suffolk’s League IV game, with teams redoubled efforts to ensure the stadium is playable.
Ten tennis players ditched their tennis rackets for squeegee and, with the help of two rangers with leaf blowers, cleaned eight courts of water and made them manageable.
“We’re lucky that we’re ready,” Southold head coach Andrew Sadowski said. “We’re lucky that it’s held up really well.”
The Blazers weren’t so lucky against the Ravens, who swept all seven games to win 7-0.
“We played really well,” said Quincy Brigham, a senior who played doubles with Jaden Olsen. “They’re a really good team. They’re really solid, like they’ve been going all the way.”
All in all, they performed a small miracle.
After rain earlier in the day, school administrators made sure the courts were ready for tennis. But around 1.30pm, a downpour nearly ruined the match.
“The sun came out,” Sadowski said. “Then that big cloud came and came down again. We started scrambling. We got the custodians to come out and deal with it, and the guys came out. Whenever we had little puddles, we took turns doing it and trying to get the It gets off and lets the wind dry. Thankfully, that’s what it does.”
Although the Settlers (6-5, 5-4) are underdogs against the Ravens (9-1, 7-1), they’re looking to play with just one week left in the regular season.
“Ross is on the way and we don’t want to give up on this game,” said senior co-captain Brendan Kilcommons, who beat Teigrins 6-0, 6-1 in the first singles match. “We don’t want to cancel it. We just want to get out of here, play as many games as we can, and do everything we can to keep this game going.”
Brigham added: “I don’t think we’ve ever played on a course this wet. We’ve had to wipe them off before, but not like this.”
It’s certainly not perfect, but the playing field is good enough.
“I actually expected it to be worse,” Kilcommons said. “I don’t find myself slipping a lot. But there’s definitely a point or two where you feel like it’s not a course you’re used to playing on.”
The game was originally scheduled to take place at Rose. But the game moved from East Hampton to North Fork because two players, Brendan Mullen and Joe Zuhoski, will be inducted into the school’s National Honor Society in a 7 p.m. ceremony.
Honor Society Chapter President Brigham will deliver the inaugural address. Vice President Olsen and club members Kilcommons, Skyler Valderrama and Ben Jernick will also be in attendance. Seven tennis players are NHS members.
“It’s really important,” Brigham said. “It shows that we’re not just a sports team, we have an academic mind. That’s very important.”
Even if the results don’t fit Southold’s way.
Teddy Brodlieb defeated Evan Maskiel 6-1, 6-2 in the second singles match. Gabriel de la Maza beat Valderrama 6-4, 6-0 in the third singles, while Max Kormely beat Zuhoski 6-1, 6-0 in the fourth singles.
Leonardo Camo and Nicolas Sanchez defeated Brigham and Olsen 6-0, 6-3 in their first doubles match. Alex Frohlich and Simon Aser beat Jernick and Mullen 6-2, 6-4 in the second pair and Peter Hackett and Cicil McGlynn beat Noah 3-6, 6-2 (11-9) in the third doubles Bensen and Brian Schill.
“They’re all well-coached tennis players,” Sadowski said of the private school team. “They all have private lessons. That’s obviously a huge plus.”
Despite the loss, the Settlers are hopeful they can play in the county tournament this month. They finish the regular season at Shoreham-Wading River on Thursday before hosting Westhampton on Tuesday 9 May.
“Every game is competitive no matter what the scoresheet is,” Brigham said. “Everyone is doing their best. We’ve been getting better all season.”
