By: Sean Moylan
With most of its big matches behind it, the Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ varsity tennis squad had an extremely productive week last week.
The Greyhounds started the week off with a 5-0 home win versus Willingboro last Wednesday.
Scott Zanon, NBC’s first singles player, lost only one game in each set in his straight sets win versus Brandon Chiolow. And NBC’s second singles player, Jeremy Schmitter beat Leo Galhardo by an identical score (6-1, 6-1).
In third singles, Justin Wagner was even better as he dropped only one first set game in his victory over Willingboro’s Per Ericsson.
In first doubles, Nate Majoras and Dan Mayo had no trouble beating Willingboro’s Will Young and Kyle Price 6-1, 6-3. There was no match at second doubles because the Willingboro squad forfeited it (Tim Bullus and Don Follmer got the win).
The match of the week was slated to take place at Burlington Township last Thursday. However, it quickly became the half match of the week when rain cut the event short with the Greyhounds leading the Falcons, 2-1.
In second singles, Schmitter had enough time to beat the Falcons’ Brian Dawson 6-3, 6-3 and Wagner (third singles) edged Ryan O’Connor 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3).
The Falcon’s Josh Dugue and Lubos Ancin beat Majoras and Mayo in first doubles.
Zanon was tied with Township’s Felipe Faundez 6-7 (7-2), 6-3 when the rains came.
And Bullus and Follmer had a slight edge (4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 4-3) before their match with the Falcons’ Alison Ford and Jeff DeLuca was cut short.
NBC trounced Pemberton, 5-0, at Northern on Monday behind solid performances by Zanon (a 6-3, 7-5, 6-1 win over Jeb Garcia), Schmitter (a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win versus Eric Betham) and Wagner (a 6-1, 6-4 victory against Mike Hartigan) in their singles matches.
"We played well," said NBC Coach Larry Young. "Scott Zanon had a little hiccup in the second set but he played well too."
NBC’s Majoras and Mayo were sharp in a 6-3, 6-2 triumph against Matt Eldridge and Bobby Jefferson in first doubles. And Bullus and Follmer beat Joe Jantas and Tim Radice 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.
On Tuesday, NBC creamed Willingboro 5-0 at Willingboro, which had only three players available.
NBC (9-4) earned the third seed in the playoffs. It earned a first round bye but it will host Woodstown on Tuesday in a second round playoff match.
FLORENCE
Slowly but surely the doubles teams have developed into the strength of the Florence Township Memorial High School co-ed tennis team.
In last Wednesday’s (April 30th) match, Florence’s doubles squads posted the Flashes’ only wins in a 3-2 home loss to Cinnaminson.
Sean Marren and Ronak Patel, the Flashes’ ultra-tough first doubles pairing outlasted Alan Croft and Gary Gasko 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-2).
"My most confident (players) are my first doubles," said Florence head coach Ovi Dragos, who notices the drastic improvement in the squad.
In second doubles, Jonathan Hand and Desiree Stemmer defeated Cinnaminson’s Paul Huntinton and Huy Dhan 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (8-6). Happily the Flashes were back in the win column on Thursday with a 5-0 decision at Willingboro.
In first singles Daniel Senni pounded Brandon Chiolan 6-0, 6-1. Jonathan Hand, playing a rare second singles match, crushed Willingboro’s Leo Galhardo 6-2, 6-3. Hummel blanked Per Ericsson in third singles.
Florence’s terrific first doubles tandem of Marren and Patel beat Kyle Price and Will Young 6-2, 6-2 and Willingboro forfeited the second doubles match.
Florence’s home match versus Pemberton last Friday was delayed because of heavy rains. Play will pick up where the parties left off at a later date.
Nevertheless, Luis Gutierrez did manage top sneak in a 6-2, 6-0 win over Pemberton’s Eric Bentham in second singles before the downpour stopped action.
On Monday, the Flashes nipped the Delran Bears 3-2 in a huge home victory.
Hummel defeated Delran’s Kevin Boyle 6-1, 6-1 in third singles while Marren and Patel posted an all-important 6-4, 6-3 win versus Delran’s Tom Travagliano and Kevin Kent. Jenny Liu and Stemmer won by forfeit in second doubles.
"I think the kids have worked hard and we’ve accomplished our goals (Florence is currently 6-6)," said Coach Dragos.

