March 22, 2007 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

CHA tennis topples Knights
by TOM UTESCHER

Chestnut Hill Academy’s racquet squad took advantage of temperatures in the 60’s last Tuesday afternoon, playing a scrimmage match against the visiting Knights of Delaware County Christian School.

The host Blue Devils, who return most of their line-up from 2006, won all seven matches against Delco Christian, which competes in the Southern Chester County League. Larry Hyde, CHA’s second-year coach, had been able to arrange indoor practices for his team at the Magarity Tennis Center in Flourtown, but the Knights had not been as fortunate, taking the court for the first time three days before Tuesday’s tune-up and using improvised nets in their training.

Chestnut Hill has seniors in all four singles slots this spring, and the top three are reprising their roles from last season. For the opening scrimmage, the teams played one pro set at each position, and Blue Devils number one Cameron Silbert quickly chalked up an 8-0 win over Delco’s Paul Manley, also a senior. Silbert already has his college plans in place, having accepted a scholarship to play at Lehigh University.

The senior number two’s, Ian DeSantis of CHA and Max Parry of DCCS, didn’t absorb the instructions regarding the match format, and wound up playing two regular sets which were won by DeSantis, 6-0, 6-1. Blue Devils number three Mike Biggans, who will also attend Lehigh, defeated Knights junior Dave Lange, 8-2.

Last year, the three seniors on CHA’s squad were concentrated in the middle of the line-up, playing fourth singles and first doubles. Current upperclassman Sam Winter filled the singles vacancy on Tuesday, and won by an 8-5 score over the visiting number four, senior Owen Mundth.

Sophomore Ryan Duffy and junior Matt Chang partnered at first doubles for the Devils, and topped Delco Christian seniors Jim Paik and Adam Yesner, 8-1. Chestnut Hill’s second duo, junior Schuyler Rooke and freshman Dylan Ward, won by the same score against junior Dan Turner and sophomore Zach Stirparo of the visiting side.

The Knights entertained hopes of avoiding a shut-out when freshman Dave Manley and sophomore Isaac Williams took a lead in the third doubles match, but two Blue Devil sophomores, Stevie Dandridge and Andres Navarro, rallied to pull out an 8-6 victory.