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BOYS TENNIS: Elco served out in state semifinals


HERSHEY>> Heading into the final day of the PIAA team tennis championships, the Elco Raiders and their coach Zach Cook knew they had a tall order in trying to chop down district and Class AA redwood Wyomissing.

But with his most veteran, seasoned and accomplished lineup yet, top to bottom, Cook left Hershey Racquet Club after Friday night's quarterfinal win over Elk County Catholic feeling good about the Raiders' chances to at least give the Spartans a run for their money.

That never really materialized—at least, not in any dramatic fashion. Adam Bahney acquitted himself well in a first singles dogfight with Wyomissing's Andre Fick, but otherwise the Spartans were in control Saturday over a 4-1 semifinal win against the Raiders. The triumph, Wyomissing's 79th in a row, moved the Spartans to their fourth consecutive state championship, where they later lost to Moravian.

It was not quite the showing Cook was hoping for. But when your opposition hasn't lost in four years, there is usually a good reason for that.

"I know we're better than we played, but Wyomissing is Wyomissing," Cook said. "We were too tight. We talked about what we wanted to do, we talked strategy, we knew who our opponents were. I could see we weren't warming up well."

Elco loses Bahney and Galen McNaughton—District Three's doubles champions—for next season, leaving a huge hole at the top of the lineup card.

"I hate to call next year a rebuilding year, but this was our big shot, absolutely," Cook admitted. "It's not like we have another Adam or Galen coming up next year or the year after. But we do have a ton of experience now. All those guys who didn't have ton of experience, now they will. Instead of a top-heavy team, we'll have more depth."

Elco's lone point came after the match was already clinched in favor of Wyomissing, three courts to none, when Spartan No. 2 singles player Dan Trifoi voluntarily gave up his match to Galen McNaughton in order to rest up for the final. Bahney and Fick elected to continue at top singles. Bahney grabbed the second set from Fick 6-3—the first set Wyomissing's state champ had dropped all season—but Fick prevailed 10-3 in the third set tiebreak for the final team point of the match.

The doubles courts were somewhat lopsided in favor of the reigning champs. Pat White and Zach Miller beat brothers Linden and Mason Bennetch, 6-1, 6-0, at No. 1, while Ben Croft and Izaak Weaver-Herrera did the exact same to Elco's Christian Stahl and Dawson Smith.

"They're young and inexperienced," Cook said of his doubles crew. "I hope they can take this to next year and hopefully understand that this is the level they need to get to."

Those doubles courts were the first to close, giving the Spartans a 2-0 lead. Alphonse Bongbong clinched the match for Wyomissing with a 6-3, 6-2 win over Dylan Spitler at No. 3 singles.

Saturday's semifinal loss closed the books on a special era of Elco team tennis, spearheaded by the two big guns at the top.

"I remember talking to Adam and Galen in the eighth grade," Cook said. "And I said 'Guys, by the time this is over, you'll have legitimate shots at the big stage. We'll make sure we'll have a good supporting cast around you.' These guys, they've surpassed my expectations; not only in doubles but with the team."