Sachems strike again
Mount Greylock has no answer
WORCESTER - Mark it down on the calendar. It's expected at this point - June rolls around, Winchester wins another state title in boys' tennis. The veteran Sachems (23-0) made it five championships in six years with a commanding 5-0 win over Mount Greylock yesterday at Clark University.
"We say in Winchester, 'We don't rebuild, we just reload,' " said coach Erik Hamilton, whose team is 70-1 with three state titles in his three seasons.
The Sachems locked this one up early. Seniors Brendan Riley and Brian Campbell cruised at No. 1 doubles, winning, 6-1, 6-1, over Taylor Foehl and David Nolan, while teammates John Battinelli and Natty Goehring were 6-4, 6-1 winners over Nico Walker and Matt Riley.
Meanwhile, senior Jeff Davis beat Rohan Shastri - a lanky, talented seventh-grader - at No. 2 singles, and freshman Christian Boulanger beat senior Dan Whateley, 6-3, 6-1.
If there was any drama in the afternoon, it was at No. 1 singles as Winchester's Karsten Rathlez battled Mount Greylock junior Matt Vaughan in the final match of the day.
Winchester had the title, but Rathlez, called "Hollywood" by his teammates, followed the script, using his pinpoint power game to fend off a spirited effort from Vaughan, 6-2, 7-5.
"He played all the way to the end," Rathlez said of Vaughan. "He's a great player, and he showed that Mount Greylock came to play. They came in expecting to win, but we've been here before, and I've been here before. When it comes down to that last point, that last game, that last set, we know what to do."
Hamilton knew he could count on his seniors to lead his younger players.
"If they see any weaknesses, I don't even have to say anything. They say, 'I'm here, let me help you out.' They give little private lessons," he said.
Because of that, four upcoming graduations don't faze him.
"We've got 19 guys who can play tennis," said Hamilton. "I'm not guaranteeing every year we'll be undefeated, but we'll always have a strong team from Winchester - that's a guarantee."
Rathlez, who will play next season at UMass-Dartmouth, was pleased to cap his high school career in style.
"I can't believe it's over, but you know, I like to finish out that way. Not going easily, but to have a player go out and give you his best, too. I was happy with the way things ended," he said.
Because of a reporter's error, the final score of Winchester's semifinal win over Dover-Sherborn was incorrect in Wednesday's paper. Winchester won, 4-1, with Andy Dougherty beating Boulanger at No. 3 singles for Dover-Sherborn's point.
