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By Steve Bigham

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By Steve Bigham

The Newtown High School boys’ tennis team has already put Monday’s tough loss to Joel Barlow behind it and is now focused on the next task at hand – the South-West Conference tournament.

The SWCs take place next Monday and Tuesday at Bethel High School and several Newtown players are projected to contend for individual league titles. And, if all plays out, Newtown could be vying for a league title, as well.

“All I can project is that our guys are all going to be among the top seeds,” said coach Martin Margulies, who has led the Nighthawks to a 12-2 record this season.

Heading into next week’s tournament, sophomore Jon Perachio is the favorite to take the SWC title at second singles. Perachio returns to Bethel to defend his title, sporting an undefeated record.

Also expected to be there at the end is first singles player, Zack Miller, who battled hard a year ago before finally bowing out in the finals to Weston’s Evan Gillespie. The two are expected to butt heads at some point next week. Gillespie beat Miller in three sets earlier this season.

Sean O’Mahoney has the ability to beat anyone and Margulies expects big things from the hard-hitting sophomore next week. If O’Mahoney can keep his game in focus, he could end up champ, as could fourth singles player Matt Beres, who remained undefeated at that spot until a loss to Joel Barlow’s Mike Klufas on Monday.

Also expected to receive a high seed is Newtown’s first doubles team of Pete Stephenson and Matt McFadden, which also suffered a rare loss on Monday, as did Newtown’s solid second doubles team of Steve Danyew and Jason Garbarino.

Newtown will not likely qualify at third doubles team for next week’s tourney because Margulies has used several different players there and because of its poor record. However, on Monday Mark Stephenson and Aaron Johnson did the third doubles position proud with a fine match against a strong Barlow team. Newtown finally succumbed in the third set, but the effort certainly gained Margulies’ praise.

“Our third doubles third team of Aaron Johnson and Mark Stephenson played its best tennis of the season. They stretched stronger opponents to the limit, but unfortunately, they fell just short,” the coach said.

Monday’s match was strange in that Newtown’s top three singles players all won easily. However, the next four matches all went to Barlow.

Newtown defeated Brookfield, 5-2, at home May 9.

Newtown was slated to wrap up the regular season Wednesday afternoon at Foran in Milford.

Joel Barlow 4, Newtown 3

Singles: Zack Miller (N) def Craig Spann 6-1, 6-2; Jon Perachio (N) def Lucas Taker 6-1, 6-2; Sean O’Mahoney (N) def Erik Skartuedt 6-0, 6-2; Mike Klufas (JB) def Matt Beres 6-4, 6-3. Doubles: Dauer Warner/Jared Kutner (JB) def Peter Stephenson/Matt McFadden 6-3, 6-2; Marion Cable/Marc Rottman (JB) def Steve Danyew/Jason Garbarino 6-2, 6-0; Pete MacLellan/Ken Brown (JB) def Mark Stephenson/Aaron Johnson, 6-4, 2-6, 7-5.

Newtown 5, Brookfield 2

Singles: Zack Miller (N) def Colin Robinson 6-3, 6-3; Jon Perachio (N) def George Overkamp 6-0, 6-0; Sean O’Mahoney (N) def Mark Bunavitz 6-1, 6-1; Matt Beres (N) def Greg Garofalo 6-4, 7-6. Doubles: Peter Stephenson/Matt McFadden (N) def Tim Power/Greg Strait 6-4, 7-5; Jeremy Meltze/Nichant Shah (B) def Steve Danyew/Jason Garbarino 4-6, 6-1, 6-2; Austin Greenfield/Andy Baker (B) def Mark Stephenson/Aaron Johnson, 1-6, 6-3, 6-4.

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