New Kings Of The Court — NHS Boys’ Tennis Team Ends Weston’s Conference Run And Stays Unbeaten

By Andy Hutchison

Since he started coaching at Newtown High School a decade ago, Marty Margulies’ boys’ tennis teams had never beaten the Weston Trojans. The coach said he never thought he would see it happen.

Not only had the Nighthawks struggled against Weston throughout the years, but the Hawks had been blanked 7-0 every time the rivals met dating back six or seven years, Margulies said. What’s more, the Trojans had not lost a match in South-West Conference play since 2006. The perennial SWC powerhouse Trojans, however, saw their approximately four-year conference streak come to an end thanks to the Nighthawks, on a windy afternoon at Treadwell Park, on April 28.

Margulies saw it happen — his team overcoming Weston — thanks to some clutch performances in this match. Four of the seven singles and doubles matches went to a third and decisive set, and Newtown pulled out three of those clinchers en route to a 5-2 win.

“I never thought I’d live to see it,” Margulies said. “I think it’s a wonderful confidence booster for them, as long as it doesn’t lead to overconfidence. This was a dog fight and it could easily have come out the other way.”

The Nighthawks led 3-2 when the No. 2 doubles team of Rich Andreotta and Tyler Ruefenacht pulled out victory over Weston’s Harrison and Jon Lipsitz to clinch the team triumph. The NHS duo won 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

“We were able to focus and push the nerves aside,” Andreotta said.

Newtown’s third doubles tandem of Max Paynter and Cam McCleary also won, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4 to finish the overall win.

Margulies said he was proud of those doubles teams for shaking off losses to battle back and win. Newtown improved to 5-0 and Weston left Newtown with a 6-1 mark.

The Nighthawks’ top doubles team, Colin Jacob and Connor Howell, also won to give the Hawks a sweep in the doubles matches.

“It’s a good feeling,” Howell said.

“We’re excited,” added Jacob, who pointed out that patience, waiting for the appropriate time to try to put away points was the key to winning.

Margulies was thrilled with the way the second and third doubles players maintained their composure and overcame losses to prevail.

Newtown’s singles winners were No. 2 player Peter Manos and No. 4 player Rob Beier.

“I just stayed confident. With the wind, it was tough to keep the ball in,” Manos said.

The Nighthawks went on to knock off Bethel 6-1 the next day with a slightly different look to the lineup. Manos and Beier won at the No. 2 and 3 singles, and Sean Elliott won at fourth singles. Jacob and Howell again won in the top doubles position, and Andreotta and Ruefenacht won in the second doubles position. At third doubles, Kieran Lardner and Ricky Fuentes won in straight sets.