BY RYAN O’CONNORSamantha Jean doesn’t like to lose, especially to her sister, Kirsten. The feeling is mutual, said the younger sibling. Though each was the top tennis player for their respective high school this season, they never met in a New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association-sanctioned event. Sam, a recent Manchester ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR They finally made it to the altar. All that was left was a lift of the veil for a ceremonial kiss. In this case, the altar was the Class L boys tennis title match, and the kiss was the finishing touch on an undefeated season. The grooms were, of course, the Blue Devils of Salem. And they left no doubt who the ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORBruce Berk said he doesn’t keep track of his Derryfield School boys tennis team’s successes from year to year. Maybe he’s just lost count. The Cougars have reached the state final 15 of the last 18 years, and they have 12 titles in that span, including the last six. Most recently, they wore the 2008 Class ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORWinning a state tennis championship is a tough enough task. Six individual players have to do their part, then change their approaches and play doubles – generally immediately following an intense singles match. Now, take away two of the starting six and, subsequently, one of three doubles units. That’s what ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR No. 1 doubles teams knotted at 7-7, Jean VerPlanck thought her Bow girls tennis squad had a strong chance to knock off once-beaten Portsmouth in the Class I quarterfinals on May 21. Then the skies opened and the rain fell. When the tourney’s No. 2 and No. 7 seeds resumed play the next day, VerPlanck said any ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Todd Toler couldn’t have asked for more from his first year at the helm of the Bow boys tennis team. There’s only one problem. “I’m kind of bummed it’s over so quickly,” he said. Now Toler looks forward to sticking around for awhile and creating a perennial title contender at ...

BY RYAN O’CONNORHe was expecting the call, but he still had his fingers crossed it wouldn’t come.It did. CJ Beck picked up the phone. “Remember that bet you made,” said the voice on the other line. “We didn’t forget.” So Beck paid up. West High School’s No. 2 boys tennis player shaved his ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR Prior to the season, Curt Killion modestly said if certain pieces fell into place his team had a small shot at the playoffs. Two weeks and six contests in, the Salem girls tennis coach said the squad had to win every tight matchup remaining to accomplish the goal. In the season’s final week, he smiled, ...

BY JERRY LIPTAK The Pelham High School boys tennis team tweaked the old argument – the end justifies the means – in 2008. This was a team that proved sometimes the end just defies the means. Yes, unbeaten state champ Hanover concluded the Pythons’ season with a quick 9-0 defeat in the Class I state semifinals on ...

BY RYAN O’CONNOR The Blue Devils may have put a thorough thrashing on his squad, but Central coach Mark Telge couldn’t be happier for those on the opposite side of the tennis court. Following an 8-1 Salem victory in the state semifinals on Saturday, May 24, Telge spoke openly about Salem’s chances to win a championship ...