Players Step Up To Help Boys’ Tennis Team Win

By Andy Hutchison

The Newtown High School boys’ tennis team remained unbeaten with a pair of victories over South-West Conference foes this past week. It took a solid team effort, with contributions from up and down the lineup as the Nighthawks improved to 5-0 heading into Wednesday’s home match with Immaculate of Danbury (after The Bee sports section went to press).

With some of the Nighthawks away during the spring break, and top singles standout Rob Beier still sidelined rehabilitating a knee injury, those who were around showed how important depth can be in a lineup-shuffled 4-3 win over Bunnell of Stratford on April 18.

Cam McCleary, who presently ranks number one behind Beier, was not on hand, so Tyler Ruefenacht, Ricky Fuentes, Sean Elliott, and Yossi Kohrman-Glaser (the latter of whom usually plays at first doubles) moved up into the first, second, third, and fourth singles positions, respectively.

The Nighthawks were also without their other first doubles player, Keaton McCleary, and one of their second doubles players (Mason West). The domino effect was that Adam Oelberg and Nic Klein, who usually play at second and third doubles, respectively, moved up and filled in.

Newtown Coach Marty Margulies commended the efforts of all of his players, especially those of Charlie Poarch and Mike Dutsar, at second doubles, along with Stefan Hennessey and Wes Morlock, at third doubles. Dutsar, Hennessey, and Morlock are typically substitutes. “They filled in for absent starters, rose to the pressure and the challenge, and won the match for us. I give credit also to Adam Oelberg and Nic Klein, who moved up into third doubles,” Margulies said. “They kept their cool, and played their best-ever varsity tennis, in losing a three-set marathon to much taller opponents.”

“In singling out these six, I in no way detract from the performance of today’s other starters, who — win or lose — played their usual high level of tennis. 

Glaser, whom Margulies referred to as a reliable doubles player throughout the years, posted his first singles win.

Ruefenacht and Fuentes both dropped two set matches. Elliott won 6-1, 6-1 over Chris Nova, and Glaser earned a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over Sean Korasik.

In doubles play, Oelberg and Klein put up a fight but came up short despite winning their first set against Julien Debelle and Matt Zucco. Poarch and Dutsar were 6-4, 6-3 winners over Pat Aspinwall and Dan Green. Hennessey and Morlock prevailed 6-2, 6-2 over Nassim Amirouche and Anthony Ferroro.

On Tuesday, Newtown topped host New Milford 6-1 in a deceptively-lopsided outcome. The Nighthawks, who had everyone except Beier back in the fold, saw two matches go the distance — three sets — and had to fight for points throughout the afternoon.

“They were our toughest opponents so far, and the toughest we are likely to face this season except for Weston and Barlow. The match was much closer than the scores might suggest,” Newtown Coach Marty Margulies said.

At first singles, Cam McCleary returned and outlasted Nick Eherts 6-3, 6-2. Ruefenacht and Fuentes also won in straight sets at second and third singles, respectively, and Elliott pulled out a tough three-setter over Dan Winter. Elliott prevailed 6-0, 6-7, 7-6.

The NHS coach credited Elliott for keeping his nerve under pressure. “He fended off an extraordinary comeback by his opponent, made an extraordinary comeback of his own during the decisive third-set tiebreaker, and used sensible shot selection throughout: blocking back hard serves, hitting slices, and lobs when pressed, coming to net on good approach shots, and unleashing his power only when he was in a position to do so — and then employing it to devastating effect. He could not have won otherwise,” Margulies said.

In doubles play, Glaser and Keaton McCleary won in two sets in the top spot. West and Klein earned a hard-fought 7-5, 7-6 win over Adam Svinte and Connor Burns in the two slot, and Kunal Marwah and Morlock fell short to Pat Wells and Andrew Pivitz in three sets.