Loomis

 

Hopkins Hilltoppers Hand Loomis Chaffee 6--1 Loss 

 

   
On Wednesday, May 16, the Hopkins boys varsity tennis team made the trip up Interstate 91 north of Hartford in gloomy and cloud filled weather conditions to take on the Pelicans of Loomis Chaffee.  Before the match, Coach Ewen reminded his team that Loomis Chaffee had loomed large over Hopkins for most of its matches over the years; in fact, Loomis Chaffee had a 20--9 advantage in matches over the years during Coach Ewen's tenure.  Nevertheless, the last 5 encounters had resulted in Hopkins victories.  Play began with three doubles matches, and both the Hopkins teams and the Loomis teams fought hard and with determination.

 

   

Fortunately for Hopkins, the #1 doubles team of Brian Astrachan and Sayer Paige were able to direct the ball to one player's suspect backhand and stretch volleys, and wound up winning 8--1, though the final score bore little resemblance to the intensity of the individual points played.  And at #3 doubles, the youth movement of seventh grader Peter Conklin and ninth grader Noah Rennert combined to outmaneuver, outstroke,  and outvolley the twelfth grade Loomis tandem of Paul Lee and Peter Reveis, also 8--1.  Meanwhile, the Hopkins #2 doubles team of Alec and Michael Bartimer was in the midst of a tough battle with Loomis' Rob Brumstad and Kevin Cha, leading 5--4 when the match was suspended, since Hopkins had already clinched the doubles point.

 

   

Attention then turned to singles play.  Sayer Paige at #2 singles exploited Ramy Chin's backhand effectively during the first set, but then Ramy began running around his backhand and drilling forehands into the various corners of the court.  Points became harder to come by for Sayer, but he eventually prevailed,  6--0,  6--2.  The next match to be completed was the #4 singles slot, filled by Hopkins' Alec Bartimer.  Alec played what was his best and smartest tennis against Loomis Chaffee's hard hitting Rob Brunstad, particularly coaxing error's from Rob's backhand as Rob was forced to move from one side of the court to the other.  Soon afterward, Alec's twin brother Michael at #3 singles bested another hard hitting but somewhat less steady Loomis player with long and sustained rallies, 6--1,  6--2.  It fell to seventh grader Peter Conklin at #5 singles to supply another win by driving hard topspin cross court ground strokes to prevail against Loomis' Peter Reheis,  6--1,  6--1.  And Hopkins' Scott Goldstein found a way to neutralize the hard hit serves of his Loomis opponent at #6, winning by a 6--3,  6--1 margin.  This left Hopkins' Brian Astrachan at #1 singles playing Loomis star Matt Rollings.  Matt began to dominate Brian with blazing forehands to both corners of the court and took the first set 6--3.  But then Brian fought back with deeper and steadier play, forcing Matt into more errors and evening the match at one set apiece with a 6--2 second set victory.  Because the team victory had already been secured by Hopkins, it was decided to play a 10-point super tiebreaker to decide the #1 singles match.  The intensity of the battle increased, with both players making amazing gets and bullet-like ground strokes, and with both players having their opportunities to win.  But eventually a well executed passing shot by Matt gave him a very hard earned 12--10 tiebreak victory.  Both players were congratulated for their outstanding performances.  And the whole Loomis Chaffee team is to be commended for their earnest effort on the court and their strong sense of sportsmanship.

 

   

The Hopkins team must now wait to find out its draw this weekend in the New England Prep School Team Championships.  But it will be going into the tournament with an unblemished 12--0 dual meet record.

 

With best regards,

 

William L. Ewen