Glenelg Country repeats in C Conference tennis

by Nelson Coffin

Top-seeded Glenelg Country School (10-0), 8-0 league) rode its top singles’ teams to finish undefeated and to claim a second consecutive MIAA C Conference tennis crown on Thursday afternoon.

The 3-2 victory over second-seeded Indian Creek (7-3, 6-2) mirrored the regular season encounter between the rivals.

To no one’s surprise, Glenelg Country junior Holger Nissen prevailed, 6-love, 6-love over Indian Creek senior Conor Mastromarco in No. 1 singles. After all, Nissen lost only one game all season in conference play this season.

"Conor played as aggressively as he could,” Indian Creek coach Ryan Andrews said.

Sophomore Will Zhang topped senior Brayden Marcus, 6-4, 6-2, in No. 2 singles.

“Will raised his level of play in the second set, and Brayden couldn’t match it,” Andrews said.

Indian Creek senior James Stubbs stopped the bleeding with a 6-2, 6-0 win over Glenelg Country senior Nathan Wang, prompting Andrews to praise Stubbs’ effort and execution.

“I think it’s the best he’s ever played,” Andrews said.

The Eagles’ No. 1 doubles tandem of Charlie Tator and Ofundem Mbelem "found their peak level," according to Andrews while garnering a 6-0, 6-2 triumph over senior Aiden Allen and sophomore Dylan Horta.

Glenelg Country rebounded when juniors Luke Jackson and Jacob Rowlett took down freshman Penn Keuleman and Sophie Geismar, 6-3, 6-1, in No. 2 doubles 

Glenelg Country coach Julie Lazer said that winning a second straight title would take hard work and dedication.

"We had to dig deep to repeat,” she said. “We knew that Indian Creek would come in strong.”

Andrews said that the Eagles didn’t really come together until after a stern talking-to following the first match of the season.

"We were playing as individuals, not as a team,” he said. “I told them that win or lose, they should go out there as a team.  We worked really hard getting there by the end of the season.”