Smithfield Captures Division I Boys Tennis State Crown
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
Just one day after Smithfield junior Matt Kuhar captured the Division I boys singles state title, the Smithfield boys tennis team defeated La Salle by a score of 4-2 to win the Division I boys tennis state championship, fighting off a late La Salle surge.
First and second singles players Matt Kuhar and Kai Vennema, alongside first doubles pair members Adam Courtemanche and Samuel Miller, took care of business early to give Smithfield a 3-0 lead. Kuhar beat La Salle's first singles player Marco Amendola in straight sets 6-3, 6-0, while Vennema bested Andrew Dunn 6-2, 6-3. Courtemanche and Miller outlasted La Salle's duo of William Norton-Bliss and Curtis Dyer 7-5, 7-5, in a highly competitive match.
A state title looked to be a sure thing for Smithfield. La Salle had other plans, roaring back with victories by singles player Jonathon Boyarsky and the doubles tandem of Arron Yang and Daniel Amirault, cutting their deficit to 3-2. La Salle looked like they may be on the verge of completing an epic comeback, taking the lead in the decisive third sets in each of the last two matches.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTHowever, down 4-1 in the final set, Smithfield junior singles player Andy Peloquin rallied back in dramatic fashion against La Salle's Nathan Ray to win the set 7-5, clinching the title for the Sentinels.
“Andy's the hero today,” Smithfield head coach Derek Snow said. “I think he knew he could do it. I walked over there when it was 4-1 and asked him if he knew what he needed to do. He said yes coach and he did it. He's been poised all year. He doesn't get too high or too low and I think that really helped him out today.”
This has been a common theme for Smithfield this season, who completed their undefeated season with the championship victory.
“I'm so proud of them,” Snow said. “They've been a great team all year. When guys get down, they pick each other up. Sometimes it's the doubles and sometimes it's the singles. I'm so happy to coach this team, it's really been a pleasure.”
Snow acknowledged how big of an advantage it is to have a player like Kuhar on his team, who gave the Sentinels an early 1-0 lead.
“Matt's a great guy to have obviously for his tennis ability,” Snow said. “I feel like I have a guaranteed point. I always go in knowing we just need three other matches. Matt came out today and I could tell that he wanted it. Marco's a great player. He gave him a little bit of a fight in the first set, but Matt turned it on in the second set.”
The state championship trophy will be heading somewhere other than South Kingstown High School for the first time in fifteen years, as the Rebels were defeated by La Salle in the state semifinals.