HF-L’s Boys Varsity Tennis team proudly holds the program’s first Section V team championship trophy last week after defeating Wayne in the finals. Photo provided by HF-L Athletic Department
While the Honeoye Falls-Lima Boys Varsity Tennis team has celebrated numerous individual Section V champions before, it had never known the feeling of a team Section V title. Last Thursday, the Cougars and coach Steve Rapp learned what that is like and they got the fire department escort treatment that they have seen other Cougar squads receive after winning a Section V title.
HF-L, seeded second, topped #4 seed Wayne 4-1 in the Section V Class B1 championship on May 26. Thomas Connolly took a 6-2, 6-2 win at first singles. Will Tomaszewski outlasted his second singles opponent by 6-3, 2-6, 6-3. Sam Vogt captured a 6-0, 6-2 win in third singles. Gus Landt and Peter Burslem teamed for a 7-6, 6-2 victory over their first doubles opponents. David Tuller and Preston Yates bowed 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 in second doubles.
“Will was playing well, so I really did not say anything to him after his loss in the second set,” Rapp said. “He is really determined and I knew he could get the win. The loss by David and Preston was the difference of a shot here or there. The kids were absolutely thrilled to be the first HF-L group to win a team tennis title. It is just awesome and I was really proud of the kids. It was so nice to see the fire department escort and the parents and some students waiting for us at school when we got back.”
HF-L began the tournament with a 5-0 victory over #7 Newark in the quarterfinals on May 24. Connolly won 6-3, 6-0 in first singles. Tomaszewski earned a 6-0, 6-1 win at second singles. Vogt prevailed 7-5, 6-3 over his third singles opponent. Landt and Burslem cruised to a 6-1, 6-0 victory at first doubles. Chris Colgan and Yates took a 6-1, 6-2 victory over their second doubles opponents.
The Cougars defeated #3 seed Geneva 4-1 in the semifinals on May 25. Connolly bowed 6-0, 6-0 to his first singles opponent. Tomaszewski recorded a 6-1, 6-2 victory in second singles. Vogt ground out a 7-5, 7-5 win at third singles. Landt and Burslem won 6-1, 6-2 in first doubles. Tuller and Yates won 6-0, 6-1 at second doubles.
In the individual state qualifiers on May 19, Landt and Burslem received a bye in the first round, but lost their second round match 10-9 in doubles play. Tomaszewski won his first match 10-4, but lost his second match 10-3.
The Cougars won their final two league matches of the season. In their 4-3 victory over Brockport on May 18, Connolly won 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 at first singles. Tomaszewski earned a 6-4, 6-0 win in second singles. Vogt won 6-3, 6-1 over his third singles opponent. Aiden McLean lost 1-6, 6-1, 6-3 at fourth singles. Landt and Burslem bowed 6-3, 6-3 to their first doubles opponents. Tuller and Yates fell 6-7, 6-0, 6-1 in second doubles. Colgan and Levi Cross won 6-3, 6-3 at third doubles.
HF-L beat Webster Thomas 5-2 on May 17. Connolly extended his first singles opponent to three sets before losing 1-6, 7-5, 1-0. Tomaszewski earned a hard-fought 6-2, 4-6, 1-0 win at second singles. McLean swept to a 6-1, 6-0 victory in third singles. Gabe Falco received a forfeit win for fourth singles. Tuller and Yates combined to take a 6-3, 6-3 victory in first doubles. Burslem paired with Blake Petraitis for a 6-2, 6-2 win at second doubles. Colgan and Cross fell 7-5, 6-2 to their third doubles opponents.
