4 PI players advance to state singles
By Kevin Sjoberg
Sports Reporter
CARIBOU — The Regional Singles Tennis Qualifier was finally held last Wednesday after rain had postponed the tournament on three occasions.
In the end, four Presque Isle players earned the right to move on to the state tourney, which is scheduled to get under way Friday at Bates College in Lewiston.
Caleb Mathers beat Jake Gendreau of Madawaska in the semifinals, 8-0, before downing Caribou’s Matt Coty in the finals, 6-1, 6-1.
jMavor Photography photo
CONNOR SHAW strikes a forehand during a match in the regional singles tourney held in Caribou last Wednesday. Shaw and three other Wildcats will compete in the state tourney beginning Friday.
Connor Shaw bested Eric LaPlante of Van Buren in the semis, 8-3, and then rallied to defeat Washington Academy’s Nick Raye, 2-6, 6-2, 6-2.
Emerson Castro stopped Matt Deschenes of Madawaska, 8-2, and then scored a straight-set victory over Romayne Richards of WA, 6-1, 6-4.
On the girls’ side, Dani Wolland of the Wildcats advanced by beating Roxanne Pelletier of Fort Kent, 8-4, and then getting past Lindsey Lavoie of Madawaska, 6-2, 6-1.
jMavor Photography photo
DANI WOLLAND lunges for the ball during last Wednesday’s regional singles tennis tournament in Caribou.
Other PI players competing were Divya Bisht and Lindsey Michaud.
The regular season continued for the Wildcat teams, which are scheduled to play their final matches today in Fort Kent.
The Presque Isle boys are currently in third place in the Heal Point standings for Eastern Maine Class B with their 10-1 record.
The team’s lone loss came against Ellsworth, the top-ranked team, early in the season.
The Eagles have an 11-0 record, followed by 10-0 Camden Hills in second place.
The Wildcats played three matches last week and won them all by 5-0 scores.
PI topped Madawaska, Houlton and Mattanawcook Academy in succession.
The Wildcat girls team is finishing strong. Coach Monica Bearden’s squad is at 7-4 and in seventh place out of 15 teams in EM Class B.
The squad is coming off a perfect 3-0 week, whch included a 3-2 victory over Madawaska and 5-0 wins over both Houlton and Mattanawcook.
Camden Hills is in first place with a 12-0 record, followed by MDI at 11-0, Caribou at 10-1 and Waterville at 11-1.
The quarterfinal round of the team tournament is scheduled to begin Thursday, June 2.
The semifinals are set for Saturday, June 4, with the EM Class B finals to be played at Colby College in Waterville Wednesday, June 8.
The state championship will be held Saturday, June 11, also at Colby College.