By Kim J. Harmon

MILFORD – Coach Marty Margulies knew his Newtown High School boys’ tennis team would be a real good one and what happened last Thursday in Milford in the 2003 season opener only served to prove his point.

Newtown – losing just 12 games – hammered Foran 7-0 to open the season at 1-0. Be it the veteran player (like John Perachio) or the untested newcomer (like Justin Bass), the Nighthawks breezed through the season-opening match.

“John – perhaps the best player in the conference – was really dominating in his first outing,” said coach Margulies. “And Bass, a sophomore and newcomer, was dominating in his first outing ever, displaying exceptional patience and poise in outlasting an unorthodox opponent.”

Perachio blitzed Noah Carney at No. 1 singles 6-0, 6-0 and Bass blasted Ricky Fohrenbach at No. 4 doubles 6-2, 6-0. In between the singles bookends, Sean O’Mahoney defeated Jeff Martin at No. 2 singles 6-2, 6-0 and Matt McFadden defeated Clark Fedor at No. 3 singles 6-1, 6-1.

The performances continued on into doubles.

“The Moura brothers – playing as a team for the first time – won easily,” said coach Margulies, “and the freshmen, (Drew) Adamek and (Max) Margulies made an impressive debut.”

The Mouras – Felipe and Bruno – defeated Dennis Wan and Sean Mason at No. 2 doubles 6-1, 6-0 while Adamek and Margulies defeated Bob McVinua and Michael Wan at No. 3 doubles 6-0, 6-3. Jason Garbarino and Mark Stephenson, at No. 1 doubles, led that portion of the match off with a convincing 6-1, 6-1 win over Will Adams and Tom Maguire.

Because of the school vacation, the Nighthawks will not return to the court until Monday, April 21, when they host New Fairfield. Two days later, the boys will host Notre Dame on Fairfield and two days after that – on Friday, April 25 – they will travel to Weston to take on the Trojans.

All matches will start at 3:45 pm.