By CHRIS BROOKS, sports editor, wellsvillesports.com @iambrooksie
WELLSVILLE — Team Sectionals have begun. On Monday, five local squads all took the center stage to jumpstart their journey to glory.
Right in town was the No. 6 Lions of Wellsville, who begun their Sectional trek as defending champions for the first time in program history, out on the right foot against visiting No. 11 Addison, as they steamrolled their way towards victory in what was their final home match of the season, taking the 5-0 shutout in opening round action of the Class B2 Playoffs.
Leading the charge was Matt Bittel at first singles, as he provided a dominant showing for the Lions (5-6) with a 6-0, 6-0 shutout of Addison’s Brent Knaisch to set the tone for the team almost immediately. Following was a near shutout from Ryan Carlton, as he took a 6-1, 6-0 win at second singles.
Finishing the singles sweep was Hua Qui Zhang, who overcame a back-and-forth defeat in the first set against Nick Wright, and engineered an comeback of epic proportions, shutting down his opposition completely in the next two sets to come away triumphant in a 4-6, 6-0, 6-0 win.
Wellsville would also lay claim to both doubles matches to complete the match sweep, with the second doubles team of Mohamed Ahmed and Keaton Sharpe blanking their opponents in straight sets, while the first doubles team of Ryan Haggerty and Adam Iantorno battled their way towards victory at first doubles in a 6-1, 6-3 result.
The Lions are right back on the court in the Class B2 Quarterfinal round today, as they hit the road and visit No. 3 Avon in a 4 p.m. first serve. The winner will face either No. 7 North Rose-Wolcott or No. 2 Williamson in the Semifinal round.
Singles
1. Matt Bittel (WLSV) def. Brent Knaisch (ADD), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Ryan Carlton (WLSV) def. Ahmet Colak (ADD), 6-1, 6-0.
3. Hua Qui Zhang (WLSV) def. Nick Wright (ADD), 4-6, 6-0, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Ryan Haggerty/Adam Iantorno (WLSV) def. Charles Jacobson/Jenny Zheng (ADD), 6-1, 6-3.
2. Mohamed Ahmed/Keaton Sharpe (WLSV) def. Graydon Harding/Deanita Kinasih (ADD), 6-0, 6-0.
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Class B3 First Round
No. 10 Pavilion 4, No. 7 Bolivar-Richburg 1
BOLIVAR — Ben Kisel paved the way towards victory during singles competition to aid No. 7 Bolivar-Richburg’s cause in their first round Sectionals battle on Monday, but No. 10 Pavilion found their way through to victory in the remaining four matches to record the 4-1 upset to end the season for the host Wolverines.
Kisel provided a solid showing at third doubles to lead Bolivar-Richburg (6-9), as he rolled his way towards a straight-set win by a 6-1, 6-3 count over Pavilion’s Philip Kramer to tally the team’s lone victory – their last for the season.
Jacopo Canepa and Anthony Densmore provided great battles for the hosts in the first and second doubles matches, with Canepa fighting tooth-and-nail all the way to the end in a second-set tiebreak, while Densmore did the same in the first-set tie break in his straight-set defeat.
Both doubles matches concluded in straight-sets in favor of the Golden Gophers.
Bolivar-Richburg has ended their season, as they wrap up with a record of 6-9 overall.
Singles
1. Evan Sidhu (PAV) def. Jacopo Canepa (B-R), 6-3, 7-6.
2. Nevan Good (PAV) def. Anthony Densmore (B-R), 7-5, 6-3.
3. Ben Kisel (B-R) def. Philip Kramer (PAV), 6-1, 6-3.
Doubles
1. Ashley Carli/Bradley Gurbacki (PAV) def. Gwen Coats/Andrew Crawford (B-R), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Shannon Campbell/Justin Savidge (PAV) def. Zane Pangburn/Nebula Wilson-Smith (B-R), 6-2, 6-3.
Class B4 First Round
No. 5 Houghton Academy 4, No. 12 Elba 1
HOUGHTON — A complete sweep of all three singles matches on the court was in store for the No. 5 Houghton Academy Panthers on Monday, as they dominated the competition against No. 12 Elba to clinch a spot in the Quarterfinal round of the Class B4 Tournament with a 4-1 victory over the visiting Lancers.
The victory for the Panthers (9-2-1) was led by Alex Fraile, Caleb Hilshire and Sam Winkens, as all three players helped bring out the brooms in the singles department, with Hilshire charging the efforts with a near sweep of his opponent in a 6-1, 6-1 second singles victory.
Fraile and Winkens would have to battle their way through a close battle in each of their opening sets, before finding a way to roll towards triumph in the end, taking the straight-set wins at first and third singles, respectively.
In the doubles department, the team of Lucas Matias Rocha and Josh Paschalis helped Houghton Academy further cement their win, battling straight down to the wire from within a second-set tiebreak to conclude the evening with a 6-0, 7-5 win at first doubles.
Elba would clinch their first victory at second doubles by a 6-4, 6-2 count over the hosts’ team of Lucy Lu and Jim Patipewe.
Houghton Academy is back on the court today, as they move into the Class B4 Quarterfinals where they will meet No. 4 Caledonia-Mumford in a 4 p.m. first serve with a spot in the Semifinals on the line. The winner will face either No. 9 Avoca/Prattsburgh or No. 1 Wheatland-Chili.
Singles
1. Alex Fraile (HA) def. Christopher Olguin (ELB), 6-3, 6-1.
2. Caleb Hilshire (HA) def. Emily Rowe (ELB), 6-1, 6-1.
3. Sam Winkens (HA) def. Jason Rowe (ELB), 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles
1. Lucas Matias Rocha/Josh Paschalis (HA) def. Amelia Brewer/Ian Keberle (ELB), 6-0, 7-5.
2. Abraham Izucar Hernandez/Alexa Ocampo (ELB) def. Lucy Lu/Jim Patipewe (HA), 6-4, 6-2.
No. 9 Avoca/Prattsburgh 4, No. 8 Scio 1
BELMONT — Although the eight-seeded Scio Tigers were able to grab a victory in the midst of the singles competition, No. 9 Avoca/Prattsburgh recorded the last three wins themselves to pair with a doubles forfeit to ignite what was a 4-1 victory to capture the upset in opening round action of the Class B4 Tournament, Monday evening at Genesee Valley.
Corey Field was the lone winner for the Tigers (8-6-1), as he weaved his way through a closely-knit battle with Avoca/Prattsburgh’s Connor Stewart at third singles before rolling towards victory overall with a 6-3, 6-1 decision.
Two Avoca/Prattsburgh victories would come via straight-set shutout at first singles over Jude Marion, and again at first doubles over Scio’s team of Austin Gowdy and Ben Weimer. The Titans would also garner a second singles win from Elias Putnam over Liam Carouge while adding a second doubles forfeit win to finish off the win.
Scio’s season has come to its end, as they wrap up a fine season of tennis with a record of 8-6-1 overall.
Singles
1. Ryan Stanford (A/P) def. Jude Marion (SCIO), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Elias Putnam (A/P) def. Liam Carouge (SCIO), 6-1, 6-2.
3. Corey Field (SCIO) def. Connor Stewart (A/P), 6-3, 6-1.
Doubles
1. Jackson Oliver/Bryce Schuck (A/P) def. Austin Gowdy/Ben Weimer (SCIO), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Gavin Mills/Tyler Nichols (A/P) by for.
No. 6 Alfred-Almond 5, No. 11 Andover/Whitesville 0
ALMOND — The No. 6 Alfred-Almond Eagles were at the top of their game to begin their Sectional journey on Monday, as they dominated the competition against No. 11 Andover/Whitesville on their home court for the final time in a 5-0 shutout to move onto the Class B4 Quarterfinals.
All five matches by the Eagles were won across straight sets, three of them in shutouts, claiming them at first and second doubles over Will Kent and Jayden Reed, and as well as second doubles over Kori Carlin and Bryne Hunt.
Liam Harris would garner a 6-1, 6-0 win at third singles for the hosts over Andover/Whitesville’s (2-9) Trey Kent, while Maddox Dixon and Lucas Koegel finished off the win with a first doubles victory over their own.
Andover/Whitesville has wrapped up their 2022 season with a record of 2-9 overall.
Singles
1. Cameron Heinig (A-A) def. Will Kent (A/W), 6-0, 6-0.
2. Chris Mormino (A-A) def. Jayden Reed (A/W), 6-0, 6-0.
3. Liam Harris (A-A) def. Trey Kent (A/W), 6-1, 6-0.
Doubles
1. Maddox Dixon/Lucas Koegel (A-A) def. Taegan McCrea/Elden Terhune (A/W), 6-1, 6-1.
2. Noah Dusinberre/Patrick Powers (A-A) def. Kori Carlin/Bryne Hunt (A/W), 6-0, 6-0.
