Mainland boys beat Moorestown 3-2 in sectional final, first title since 2017
LINWOOD — Tennis is a game of momentum, something hard to maintain when you have to take a break every five games because of the blistering heat.
The boys from Mainland Regional and Moorestown high schools were facing each other for the second year in a row in the South Jersey Group III finals, this time on the courts in Linwood where it was in the mid-90s and possibly hotter Tuesday afternoon. Because of state law, Mainland head coach Chris Connolly ushered the players off the courts periodically to find some shade for a few minutes, take advantage of cold towels and get a cold drink.
“I can’t imagine playing any sport in that heat,” Connolly said, “and they were on those hot courts. It was hot, but they did well.”
Because there isn’t a natural break as in other sports, such as quarters or halftime, they just stopped play every five games.
That messed up the players’ flow.
“I think we had momentum a couple of times then we started losing it when we took the breaks, but it is for the safety of the athletes and it affected both teams. It was definitely needed with that heat,” he said.
The Mustangs weathered the unusually high temperatures a little better, enough to come away with a 3-2 victory over Moorestown, even though it came down to grueling third sets.
First singles Mike Walton made the quickest work of his opponent, Aidan Nemiroff, 6-1, 6-2. Evan Himmelstein was next at third singles, knocking off Quaker Xander Giannone, 6-1, 6-2.
The Quakers got a point back at first doubles when the combo of Jason Renkant and Nick DiMarino prevailed over Joseph Dib and Chris Guillen, 6-3, 7-5.
That put the onus on second singles Alex Wise and second doubles Jack Palaia and Aaryan Deshpande.
They each won their first sets but dropped their second sets, forcing them to go to deciding third sets.
Wise, facing Ajay Shah, had won 6-3 in the first only to lose 6-3 in the second.
While he was playing, Palaia and Deshpande, who had won their first set 6-2 but lost their second set 6-4, were getting on a roll in the third set.
Connolly said it was important for the doubles team to know Wise was still playing.
“The longer that he was on the court it put less pressure on the rest of the team,” he explained. “That’s our philosophy: Either win fast and get off or play as long as possible to give hope and take the pressure off your fellow teammates.”
Knowing Wise was still battling, Palaia and Deshpande took the third set 6-2, giving the Mustangs the crucial third point that brought with it the first South Jersey title since the team went back to back in 2016 and 2017.
“I’m proud of the fact they could deal with the momentum swings and hold onto it when they won that third set 6-2,” Connolly said.
He noted that he has played and coached various sports and that tennis “is one of the more momentum-based activities.”
“Without it being a South Jersey final, without the heat, momentum is tough to keep in any sport, much less tennis,” he said. “With all that thrown in there, it just showed you that we had the momentum in the first set, then lost the second set. They came back and got the momentum in the third.
“That’s a great moment for Jack and Aaryan to get that third point (which gave Mainland the title). It came down to that match that won it for us.”
With the title decided, Wise fell in the third set 6-2.
The coach said he has been so impressed with his senior-heavy team, the two doubles duos and the three singles. As the team went undefeated from the start right through the South Jersey final, he said part of that was having a pair of championship-quality doubles teams.
“I was definitely happy to have our four doubles players this year. Jack and Aaryan definitely have some great reflexes. They’ve played together for so long. (Quick reflexes) is a great asset to have when you’re playing doubles,” he said.
Palaia and Deshpande were second doubles their freshman year, missed the COVID year, and were first doubles last year, when they won the Cape-Atlantic League doubles crown. This year they lost in a challenge match to Joe Dib and Chris Guillen, who were the CAL doubles champs this year. (They beat Palaia and Deshpande in the all-Mainland CAL finals.)
“Especially for Mainland, we pride ourselves on our doubles teams. One won the CAL this year and the other one won last year. Add that to our singles guys who step up and play and from a coaching standpoint it was very nice,” he said.
Walton, at first singles, had only one loss at home and was 6-0 in playoff matches over the past two years, beating Moorestown’s second singles in the finals in 2021 and the first singles this year.
First singles is the hardest to play because Walton always go up against his opponents’ best player. Walton, the coach said, “has always been a great player, but he’s been dominant the last two weeks.” That and winning six playoff matches over two years is a great accomplishment for him, Connolly said.
Wise, at second singles, was 5-1 over the past two years in the playoffs and undefeated at second singles in 2022 until the S.J. final.
Himmelstein, at third singles, had only one loss this year and was 3-0 in the playoffs this season.
All of that adds up to “awesome teamwork,” Connolly said. “It makes the coaching easy when you have players step up and commit to the team, which they all did.”
The Mustangs will graduate five of their seniors in June. Only Wise and Guillen are juniors.
Connolly said the seven current players have really built Mustang tennis over the last two years, which should leave a lasting legacy.
They finished the regular season undefeated last year and won the CAL but lost in the South Jersey finals, 3-2, to Moorestown. This year they are undefeated again at 21-0 with the South Jersey title under their belts.
The coach said the records and the title this year are great for Mustang tennis.
Two years ago, after COVID-19 canceled the spring 2020 season, Mainland brought back only first singles Daniel Wise and Deshpande and Palaia.
“We lost four starters over those two seasons. It was kind of nice what we’ve done with this program over the past two years and what the boys have done. They really established a team-first mentality, working hard and working hard for your fellow teammates. That’s something that coach Evans and I have done through every sport we’ve coached — basketball, soccer and tennis. I have to give the boys credit. They really bought into it and … I think it’s going to set us up for the next few years moving forward.”
Even though they will be rebuilding with inexperienced players next year, the coach had to credit the seven starters this season.
“They’re building the foundation of what we can expect for ourselves but more importantly for where we want to be. We might not be in a South Jersey final soon — hopefully sooner rather than later — but we know the expectations, the support and the teamwork will be there. That’s the important thing.”
After battling through the heat on their way to their title, Connolly gave the team the day off Wednesday. Two of his players were cramping up so badly after Tuesday’s championship that they couldn’t walk.
He wanted a day’s rest so they could get their legs under them. On Thursday they were facing up to two matches — the semifinals and potentially the finals — against two top-10 teams in the New Jersey Group III tournament.
At 11 a.m. Thursday the Mustangs were taking on Milburn at Mercer County Park while Princeton was going up against Tenafly. The winners of the semifinals were to play at 3 p.m. Thursday for the state title.
– STORY AND PHOTOS BY DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
