CHA freshman tops in league tennis tourney

by TOM UTESCHER

After posting its first winning record of the new millennium in Inter-Ac League play, Chestnut Hill Academy's tennis team produced more positive results at the league's individual championships on May 20 at Germantown Academy.

The Blue Devils' number one, ninth grader Reid Carleton, breezed through the competition in straight sets in the first singles draw to lay claim to the title of the league's top player, while CHA senior Steve Biggans finished as runner-up following a three-set final at second singles. Placing third for Chestnut Hill were freshman number three Cameron Silbert, and the Devils' third doubles team of freshman Mike Biggans and junior Joe Rosen.

In regular-season play (where the team champion is determined), Haverford School and Episcopal split in their two head-to-head meetings, but the Fords took the Inter-Ac title with a record of 9-1, while EA's Churchmen (8-2) had a second loss, to Chestnut Hill.

The Blue Devils landed third, with a 6-4 record that included three 3-4 defeats, and Germantown was fourth at 5-5. Penn Charter and Malvern, which only played each other once (a rain-out was never made up), ended up 1-8 and 0-9, respectively.

After drawing a bye in the first round of last week's tournament, CHA's Carleton dispatched PC's Matt Sutherland, 6-0, 6-1 in the semifinals. He did not have to labor much longer in the championship match, overcoming Episcopal's Peter Vale, 6-0, 6-3.

The Churchmen, who reached the finals in all seven draws, had Hart Callahan knock off second-seeded Paul Schoemaker of Haverford in the semifinals at second singles, 6-1, 6-2. Steve Biggans, the top seed, won by the same score in his semi against Penn Charter's Evan Footer. Pulling his second upset, EA's Callahan outlasted Biggans in the final match, 6-4, 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, while Footer won the third-place playoff for the Quakers.

In the other two singles categories and in all three doubles draws, Episcopal and Haverford converged in the finals. The Fords came away victorious at third and fourth singles, thanks to Lee Rubenstein and Mark Partridge. Two 6-4 sets allowed CHA's Silbert to clinch third place amongst the number three's, and at fourth singles Kirk Jones of GA won the third-place bout, 7-6 (9-7), 6-2.

The champions for Episcopal at first, second and third doubles were Marc Adelberg and John Kamfonas, Pat Wilkinson and Stephan Connelly, and Bernard Yaros and Trevor McGuinnis. Germantown Academy pairs won the playoff for third place in both the first (Don Smith/Jared Teichman; 6-3, 6-1) and second (Andrew Hall/Eric Guarino; 6-0, 6-3) draws, and in third doubles CHA's Biggans/Rosen duo won the third place match, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3).