Pembroke News : Tennis

Pembroke Academy reaches playoffs under first-year coach, finishes with 10 wins

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:34:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

Dylan Hall’s goal entering the season was to make the playoffs. Hall’s Pembroke Academy boys tennis team reached that goal, and in impressive fashion.

The Spartans posted one of the best campaigns in school history, finishing the regular season at 10-4 to earn the seventh seed in the Class I tournament before losing in the quarterfinals to secondranked Souhegan, 7-2.

Poor weather forced the Spartans and Sabers to play inside Nashua Swim and Tennis Club on Friday, May 29. Kyle Carty was the only member of the Spartans’ ladder to earn a singles victory; PA’s No. 5 came away with an 8-6 win over Souhegan’s Nate Readington.

Early on, it appeared the doubles matches would have meaning. The majority of the scores remained tight before the Sabers pulled away to clinch the team win before singles play concluded.

Pembroke No. 6 Bill Bouchard raced to a 4-1 lead early against Nate Poulack, but was unable to hold on and fell, 9-7. Stephen Boddie posted the next closest result, falling 8-5 at No. 3.

At No. 3 doubles, Carty and Luke Underwood defeated their Souhegan counterparts, 8-4.

Four players are eligible to return for Pembroke, including two from among the team’s top six.

Bouchard and No. 4 Ricky Yeames are likely to hold spots in the ladder next season, while head coach Dylan Hall looks for contributions from inexperienced players Jeffrey Lin and Emerson Brooks in 2010.

Despite the early exit from the playoffs, Hall said he was impressed with his team’s 10-5 mark.

“We beat Bow twice, which is our main rival, and we also beat Hanover for the first time in school history,” said Hall. “For Pembroke tennis, we had a very good year, and the seniors can take a lot out of this.”

The mentor, looking to continue the program’s growth, wants his team’s effort this year to resonate with PA’s other student-athletes.

“I’m really hoping that with the success of the team we’ll be able to attract some athletes who may not necessarily be tennis players,” said Hall. “It’s the type of sport where if you have a good, athletic kid, I can show them how to play.”

Rookie coach sees experience as means to Pembroke Academy’s improvement

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 02:22:00 GMT

BY MATT SCHOOLEY

No matter where they come from, Dylan Hall looks forward to seeing some wins.

The first-year Pembroke Academy boys tennis head coach said while he has an idea what his team’s lineup will look like, the efforts of those closer to the ladder’s bottom rung weigh just as much as those of his top player.

“A win is a win,” said Hall during a scrimmage against Goffstown on March 31. “Our goal is to make the playoffs, to play good, solid tennis and get in there and have some fun. We’ve got a good group of kids, practicing has been good, and I think we have a good shot at it.”

Barring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1. Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

Pembroke traveled to and handily defeated Laconia on April 13, 8-1. The Spartans face Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its seaBarring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1.

Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

Pembroke traveled to and handily defeated Laconia on April 13, 8-1. The Spartans face Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its seasonopener, being able to scrimmage has exposed Hall’s squad to a different kind of action.

“Tennis is the type of sport where you can practice a lot and be good in practice, but nothing makes up for game experience,” said Hall. “It’s a totally different animal once the games start. Certain kids get tight, certain kids get better, so (the scrimmage) is huge.”

During the preseason meeting with GHS, Hall wasn’t necessarily concerned with the scores of the matches, but said he and his team benefited from the day.

“I’ve just been watching to see how they perform under pressure, and all kids are different …,” said Hall. “What I really want to see is them put to use some of the stuff we’ve worked on, and that’s all I am really looking for.”

Pembroke Academy's first-year coach sees experience as means to improvement.

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:46:00 GMT

No matter where they come from, Dylan Hall looks forward to seeing some wins.

Barring an unforeseen change, Tim Phair is the Spartans’ No. 1.

Luke Underwood, Stephen Boddie and Ricky Yames, not necessarily in that order, should man the Nos. 2 through 4 spots, according to Hall.

The coach also said Kyle Carty and Bill Bouchard are among those expected to see court time this year, as well as Emerson Brooks, who has shown promise as a freshman.

PA’s season begins Tuesday, April 7, with a home match against Lebanon. The team travels to Laconia on April 13, then faces Plymouth Regional at home on April 20.

While practice time has prepared the team for its season-opener, being able to scrimmage has exposed Hall’s squad to a different kind of action.

During the preseason meeting with GHS, Hall wasn’t necessarily concerned with the scores of the matches, but said he and his team benefited from the day.

Goffstown-Pembroke Academy Tennis scrimmage

Pembroke falls to Bow, just misses postseason

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:40:00 GMT

BY JERRY LIPTAK

A playoff atmosphere arrived one week early for two good Class I tennis teams – visiting Bow and host Pembroke Academy. While the day’s end marked the season’s close for PA, Bow’s campaign begins anew.

The Falcons’ depth proved too much for the Spartans in a 6-3 victory in the regular-season finale on Friday, May 16.

Both teams entered the contest knowing the winner would earn a postseason invitation.

Pembroke’s players also knew this was the program’s last of 14 years under head coach Dave Doherty, who plans to retire after more than three decades as a guidance counselor.

The match started well for the hosts, who took a quick 2-0 lead behind the play of their top singles players, No. 1 Bobby Thomas and No. 2 Jake Plourde. Both are seniors, and they share the team captaincy with classmate Dan Bouchard.

Thomas, who has yet to lose a singles match this year and has, according to Doherty, the all-time record at the school for wins, and Plourde also won their No. 1 doubles match, 8-1.

But those were the team’s only points, though Doherty said he was pleased with the effort of each of his players.

Dan Bouchard, junior Luke Underwood and sophomore Bill Bouchard dropped their singles matches at No. 4, 5 and 6, respectively. The score was 8-3 in each.

But PA’s No. 3 singles player, Rick Yeames, nearly pulled off a remarkable comeback. The sophomore trailed Bow senior Jack Mulvaney, 6-3, before knotting the match, 7-7 and then 8-8, forcing a tiebreaker. Still, Yeames fell, 7-5, and the Spartans faced a 4-2 hole following singles play.

The Bouchard brothers at No. 2 and the team of Yeames/ Underwood at No. 3 also succumbed by 8-3 scores.

“These kids did well with everything they had to deal with,” said Doherty, citing one key injury and a grades-related issue that cost the team another veteran. “We came this close to making the tournament.”

The loss dropped Pembroke to 8-6, one game behind the eighth and final seed in the upcoming Class I tournament.

Still, the 2008 Spartans can boast of a convincing 7-2 victory over playoff-bound Lebanon, as well as four 9-0 wins. Also, Doherty said the 2009 team should return Tim Phair, a junior lost to an ankle injury during an early-season setback to unbeaten Portsmouth.

Pembroke will miss its senior tri-captains and, of course, Doherty, who led PA to a 10-win season in 2007 and just missed another playoff appearance in ’08.

“I’ve had 14 good years here,” said the coach, “and I’ve been fortunate to have worked with a lot of great kids.”

PA’s 5-9 record belies across-the-board improvement

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:35:00 GMT

BY RYAN O’CONNOR

A losing record usually does not constitute a winning season. Try telling that to Pembroke Academy girls tennis coach Steve Langevin.

Last season, the Lady Spartans won three contests, the most in program history.

This year, they won three in a row at one point and finished with five victories.

“This is by far the most wins we’ve had,” said Langevin. “We’re getting a little better each year.”

Indeed, the team showed promise this season, and now Langevin is hoping that current success breeds more in the future. “This group of seniors started having never really played, and now they’re our (No.) 1, 2 and 3 (players),” said Langevin. “Now we have another good group of freshmen that never played either, but they’re picking the game up quickly.”

In fact, he said the current crop of ninth-graders is as aggressive as he’s seen in his six years at the helm.

“They really like the net, which is unusual because usually the less experienced kids are afraid of the net,” said Langevin. This year’s freshmen included Sarah Kelley, Christina Paradie, Shannon Yeaton, Becca Streeter, Briana Austin and Rebecca Mitchell.

While the future may be bright for his young squad, Langevin admitted the team must often focus on small victories; Pembroke Academy is not in an area of New Hampshire known for producing groomed tennis talent.

This year, for instance, PA beat Milford for the first time in program history – a 6-3 triumph on April 6 – and the Lady Spartans’ No. 1 singles player, Lindsay Tiddes, collected an 8- 4 record facing some of the top players in the state. She has a legitimate chance to reach the individual state tournament.

More important than wins and losses, however, is the way the athletes conduct themselves on the court, said Langevin.

In fact, the mentor said his squad has won the Class I sportsmanship award the last four seasons. “We have all really nice kids, and the seniors are great role models,” he said. “They show the younger kids how to act when they’re playing tennis, whether they win or they lose.

In addition to Tiddes, seniors Melissa Lussier and Melinda Blais, PA’s No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, set fine examples and played solid tennis this season, said the coach.

Others seeing playing time for Pembroke in 2008 included Lindsay Crete, Steph Allen, Sara McJuary, Megan Bobola, Kayla Reeves, and Jessica Genest.

PA learning on the go

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 21:46:00 GMT

BY MATT STOUT

Steve Langevin isn’t expecting a state title, a playoff run or even a playoff berth from his Pembroke Academy girls tennis team.

The Spartans’ fifth-year coach knows what his squad is – a “developmental program” made up largely of athletes who never played before high school – and what it isn’t. And he’s been reminded of it.

“Last year, we were playing one time, and a (an opposing player’s) parent said, ‘My daughter has been playing for eight years.’ ‘Yeah,’” Langevin recalled replying, “‘my girl has been playing for eight days.’ That’s who we’re going against a little bit.”

Yet, as Pembroke rolled through Kingswood, 8-1, on Friday, April 20, all of the past struggles – inexperience, losses to graduation, even injury and illness – moved from the forefront. Pembroke would like to keep it that way.

Despite losing their top singles player for medical reasons, the Spartans have a lot to be positive about this spring, starting with a motivated group of juniors intent on leading the way.

In earning their team’s first win of the young season, juniors Lindsay Tiddes, with an 8-1 triumph; Melissa Lussier, also at 8-1; and Melinda Blais, at 8-2, all posted convincing victories at No. 1, 2 and 3 singles, respectively.

They headed a group that also included senior Christa Antosh, an 8-4 winner at No. 4; sophomore Lindsay Crete, an 8-2 victor at No. 5; and junior Haley Harper, who earned her first varsity win with an 8-0 shutout at No. 6.

In fact, from Lussier on down, the victories were all career firsts.

Lussier also teamed with Tiddes, the team’s only returning varsity player, for an 8-5 win at No. 1 doubles, while Stephanie Allen and Vanessa Moniz each earned their first win with an 8-2 victory at No. 3 doubles.

After learning the week prior that the team’s original No. 1 player, Krys Krycki, would miss the entire season due to illness, players agreed the team win was a definite confidence boost, especially for those expected to help replace the six graduated seniors.

It’s a tall task for a program never long on winning, but not short on optimism.

“I think they’re ready, but they’re not confident in themselves because it’s only their third varsity match,” Tiddes said of the new varsity players, which also includes senior Rachel Boddie, who’s expected to see time at No. 6. “But I think we’re going to improve – a lot. And next year, we’re going to be even better because all these players are going to stay.”

As PA matures this season, it’ll also do so with a far friendlier schedule than in past years. Of the 13 teams Pembroke played last spring, 10 were tournament teams. The Spartans finished 2-11, including 2-1 against nonplayoff squads. This year, they see several teams they plan to be competitive with, including Monadnock, Kearsarge and Kingswood for a second time.

After gracing the team’s schedule twice each in past years, local powers Bow and Bishop Brady come calling once.

“I feel a lot better, a lot more confident this year,” Lussier said.

“We only have a couple tough matches, but I think we can do it.”

She then added, laughing, “Or lose close.”

New-look PA seeks ’06 success and more

Hooksett Editor — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:48:00 GMT

BY SAPNA PATHAK

After getting off to their best start in program history last year, the boys of Pembroke Academy tennis are looking for a repeat performance. Only this time, they’re targeting a different postseason outcome.

A quick start might not be as easy this season, as the Spartans graduated three of their top six players in No. 2 David Andrews, No. 3 Jon Mehegan and No. 4 Jacob Parris.

Welcoming six returners and eight newcomers, head coach Dave Doherty said the upcoming season is full of currently unanswerable questions.

“This year we have a new schedule with some teams we’ve never seen before,” said Doherty. “Things can change so quickly. One kid leaves or joins the team, and it could be a completely different team. This season should be interesting.”

Anchoring a majority of underclassmen on Doherty’s roster, junior trio Bobby Thomas, Dan Bouchard and Jake Plourde lead Pembroke’s singles rotation. Thomas should resume his spot at the top, while Bouchard and Plourde project to move up from their 2006 standings at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.

Tim Phair and Steve Boddie, who played a number of doubles matches last season, should play a significant role as singles players this year.

Senior newcomer Ben Martin joins a small group who will learn the game from scratch. “We’re practically starting over,” said Thomas. “We have such a young team, and the new guys are enthusiastic, but they don’t have a lot of experience to draw from. I’m just hoping we can play well again and maybe get past the first round this year.”

After losing to Hanover in last year’s Class I tournament, the Spartans won’t face the Marauders this season, but PA sees Souhegan for the first time and meets Bow once instead of twice. Pembroke also takes on Kennett, last year’s runner-up.

Doherty said the combination of inexperience and unfamiliar foes can result in wild swings in performance.

“It’s good having young guys because they can stick around, get better and play one day,” said Doherty. “But last year’s gone, and it doesn’t affect this year. It’s all up in the air right now.”

The Spartans start their season at Bow on Friday, April 13.