A s tournament play got underway in high school boys tennis, Monmouth Regional High School had reason for optimism. The Falcons entered the Shore Conference Tournament (SCT) sporting a 10-2 record, and their only defeats came in back-to-back 5-0 losses against a Holmdel High School team that is one of the best in the state.
Coming off two straight 3- 2 victories against Red Bank Regional High School and Shore Regional High School, the fifth-seed Falcons faced No. 12-seed Matawan Regional High School (6-6) in the first round of the SCT on May 1. They came away with the 4-1 victory, with wins in all three singles matches and at first doubles. Matawan Regional shut out Brick Township High School (4-8), 5-0, in its preliminary round match.
A tough challenge awaited Monmouth Regional on May 2 in the quarterfinals, where it went up against undefeated Christian Brothers Academy (CBA). The Falcons were held winless in all five matches, giving the Colts their 11th victory of the season and a spot in the SCT semifinals against Holmdel (16-2), which beat Colts Neck High School, 5-0, in its quarterfinals contest.
“I thought we had an outside shot against CBA, but they were pretty good,” Monmouth Regional head coach Darren Spadavecchia said.
Following its exit from the SCT, Monmouth Regional was fourth in the Monmouth County Tournament (MCT) on May 3-4 at Tindall Park in Middletown. Holmdel won its sixth straight MCT title, with wins in four out of the five finals matches. Wall High School was runner-up, while Manasquan High School was third.
Despite not taking away a championship in the conference and county tournaments, the experience gained from those matches is still important.
“All the tournament games count,” Spadavecchia said. “It puts a lot of pressure on them, and they know what to expect.”
The Falcons have been carried this season by stellar singles play, led by senior first singles standout Ivan Romano. A winner in all of Monmouth Regional’s victories this season, Romano has been a strong model of consistency for the rest of the team.
“It’s very nice to have a player like Ivan Romano,” Spadavecchia said. “If I have a meeting after school or something else to do, like giving tests, he’s always there. He basically runs my practice as a senior now. He practices all the time. He’s like a second coach.”
Spadavecchia also appreciates how having a strong first singles player affects the rest of his lineup.
“Every match you’re playing, if you have a good No. 1 playing another good No. 1, it trickles down,” he said. “If you don’t have a good No. 1, you’re giving up that position.”
Behind Romano, sophomores Vanni Roa and Greg Wall have been strong second and third singles players, respectively. While Romano graduates in June and heads off to college in the fall, Roa and Wall are expected to move up in the singles order next season.
“Roa made the finals in the MCT as a freshman [last year], and Wall made the semifinals as a freshman,” Spadavecchia said. “They have been practicing throughout the year, and I would hope they just keep going in the right direction.”
Doubles has been more of a struggle for the Falcons. Sophomore Austin DeOrio and junior Zachary St. John, both of whom Spadavecchia expects to compete for the third singles position next year, have been Monmouth Regional’s main first singles duo. Freshman Joonhah Kim, sophomores Nicco Ludden and Isaac Brinson, junior Mike Montefinese and senior Jake Clemetson have seen time at second doubles.
“At second doubles, I probably have one consistent guy, Nicco Ludden, who has had at least five different partners. It’s been tough,” the coach said.
In addition to having a hard time finding the right combinations at doubles, Spadavecchia, who is also the boys soccer coach at Monmouth Regional, pointed out low enrollment has been an issue this year.
“The freshman class has had low enrollment for some reason,” he said. “Probably seven sophomores who played tennis as freshmen moved to track. With low numbers, it’s hard.
“Some years you get lucky and get a couple of kids in,” the coach continued. “We just had a low year. Hopefully we get a few good guys next year.”
As for this year, the Falcons still have some remaining regular season matches and the state tournament to look forward to. Seedings for the sectionals were announced on May 5, and Monmouth Regional drew the No. 2 seed in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II bracket. The Falcons receive a first-round bye and will play the winner of Arthur L. Johnson High School (seventh seed) vs. Spotswood High School (10th seed) on May 13.
Monmouth Regional made it to the semifinals last year, losing to Holmdel, 5-0, after advancing out of the quarterfinals with a win over Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School, 3-2.
“We’re just trying to give an effort, do our best and put a team out every day,” Spadavecchia said.


