Battle of the undefeated teams: Groton beats Andover!
Today was a battle of two undefeated teams: Groton and Andover. Each squad had notched victories earlier in the season against some of the best teams in New England. What would happen today?
A late afternoon start time up in Andover was the perfect hour and the perfect setting for yet more magic by this most extraordinary team of dedicated athletes. After a successful practice yesterday featuring the secret "SILENT DRILL," the boys came out very strong in doubles. The #1 team of Jared Gura and Ben Jones played electrically, besting a talented team, 8-4. Meanwhile, the #3 tandem of Griffin Gura and Trip Wight once again played "lights out" tennis, winning by a score of 8-2. Andover captured the #2 contest against Larry Li and Will Vrattos. Groton 1 - Andover 0.
Time now for singles. Andover came out fighting, and, in fact, won five of the six opening singles sets. Yet, the Groton squad, resourceful and confident, battled back, and took five of the six second sets. Talk about an even contest! Griffin Gura was the only Groton player to win in straight sets. He played singles of breathtaking quality, controlling the ball ably. Groton led, 2-0. Andover then got on the scoreboard with a straight set victory of their own at #6 versus Jack Lionette. Groton led 2-1.
Larry Li, Trip Wight, Ben Jones and Jared Gura, all having won their second sets after a first set loss, would each be heading to ten-point tiebreakers where the match would be decided. Trip was the first victor of the quartet at #4, winning his tiebreaker, 10-6. Groton 3 - Andover 1. Captain Ben Jones then came up huge, clinching yet another match with a 10-8 tiebreaker win. Groton 4 - Andover 1!
Captain Larry Li then lost closely at #1 after staging a great comeback throughout the match. Groton 4 - Andover 2. As the sun was setting, Captain Jared Gura, having won his second set in a tiebreaker, then followed up with a one-sided capture of the 10-point tiebreaker. Final score: Groton 5 - Andover 2.
Commented Señor Conner: "What a match! I couldn't be more proud of these boys. They dug deep, did not panic, and truly lived in the present on the courts. They supported each other throughout the long afternoon and found a way to deliver a huge victory for Groton. To think: Roxbury Latin and Andover go down within one calendar week. Too much excitement for me. Let's go, Groton!"
Tomorrow a home match against Nobles. The fun never stops.
A late afternoon start time up in Andover was the perfect hour and the perfect setting for yet more magic by this most extraordinary team of dedicated athletes. After a successful practice yesterday featuring the secret "SILENT DRILL," the boys came out very strong in doubles. The #1 team of Jared Gura and Ben Jones played electrically, besting a talented team, 8-4. Meanwhile, the #3 tandem of Griffin Gura and Trip Wight once again played "lights out" tennis, winning by a score of 8-2. Andover captured the #2 contest against Larry Li and Will Vrattos. Groton 1 - Andover 0.
Time now for singles. Andover came out fighting, and, in fact, won five of the six opening singles sets. Yet, the Groton squad, resourceful and confident, battled back, and took five of the six second sets. Talk about an even contest! Griffin Gura was the only Groton player to win in straight sets. He played singles of breathtaking quality, controlling the ball ably. Groton led, 2-0. Andover then got on the scoreboard with a straight set victory of their own at #6 versus Jack Lionette. Groton led 2-1.
Larry Li, Trip Wight, Ben Jones and Jared Gura, all having won their second sets after a first set loss, would each be heading to ten-point tiebreakers where the match would be decided. Trip was the first victor of the quartet at #4, winning his tiebreaker, 10-6. Groton 3 - Andover 1. Captain Ben Jones then came up huge, clinching yet another match with a 10-8 tiebreaker win. Groton 4 - Andover 1!
Captain Larry Li then lost closely at #1 after staging a great comeback throughout the match. Groton 4 - Andover 2. As the sun was setting, Captain Jared Gura, having won his second set in a tiebreaker, then followed up with a one-sided capture of the 10-point tiebreaker. Final score: Groton 5 - Andover 2.
Commented Señor Conner: "What a match! I couldn't be more proud of these boys. They dug deep, did not panic, and truly lived in the present on the courts. They supported each other throughout the long afternoon and found a way to deliver a huge victory for Groton. To think: Roxbury Latin and Andover go down within one calendar week. Too much excitement for me. Let's go, Groton!"
Tomorrow a home match against Nobles. The fun never stops.
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