Hopkins Tennis Team Triumphs Tenaciously Over King

 On Wednesday, September 14, the Hopkins boys' varsity tennis team traveled through Fairfield county to reach the home courts of King Low Heywood Thomas School in Stamford, Ct. Coach Ewen had received word via the King School website that King had just won their first match ever (4--3) vs. Greens Farms Academy--a team that Hopkins had just barely edged 4--3 a year ago by a razor thin margin. So the team was warned to be ready for an improved King team.

The Hopkins players responded well to the potential challenge before them. Leading the way, and getting the Hopkins team on the scoreboard, was the #2 doubles combination of tri-captain Alex Blythe and his twelfth grade classmate, Nick Aeppel, who won their match by a convincing 6--3, 6--1 margin. Then tri-captain Jerrod Dobkin followed suit with a 6--0, 6--1 decision at #2 singles over his hard hitting but more inconsistent King opponent. Next in line was tenth grader Michael Bartimer at #3 singles, who triumphed over a respectable opponent with a heavy topspin forehand by a convincing 6--1, 6--0 score.

So Hopkins had jumped off to a 3--0 match lead, with 4 matches left to be decided. Senior Ryan Daley partnered with sophomore Alec Bartimer to provide the clinching point for Hopkins at the #1 doubles position with a hard earned 6--3, 6--4 win over a hard hitting and forceful King team. Rounding out the scoring for Hopkins were exchange student Max Scholz who played #4 singles and won in straight sets, and then the newly formed team of senior Neal Patel and eighth grader Luke Foreman, who won the last point for our team with a 6--0, 6--4 victory at #3 doubles.

Hopkins' #1 singles player Brian Astrachan worked hard to overcome a 3--1 deficit in the first set against a tall and aggressive King opponent, Billy Smithline, establishing his own rhythm through effective backhand passing shots and aggressive net play of his own to win going away by a 6--3, 6--1 score.

Thanks go to Scott Goldstein, who graciously agreed to accompany our team as a substitute player--I am thankful that Scott was able to take part in an exhibition match against one of the King varsity doubles players. Thanks are also due to Diana Blythe (Alex's mother), who drove all the way to Stamford to watch the match, and who supplied our team with delicious snacks as our match came to an eventual conclusion.

With best regards,
William L. Ewen