High School Qualifiers results & pics
Posted by Michael Starke on 30 May 2004 at 09:14 am | Tagged as: General
Standing room only Fri/Sat as spectators intently watch the matches from the bleachers
The Boy’s high school state qualifiers provided two days of exciting quality tennis this past Friday & Saturday. Jordan Smith, of BCHS, won the singles title, manhandling David Warren 6-3,6-2, while Sarath Bhagavatula & Kyle Ungvarsky of Horseheads won the doubles in a hard fought 6-4,7-5 over Eric Rose & Chris Goroleski of Chenango Valley. Chris Nosky of Chenango Forks earned the 3rd singles qualifying spot with an impressive 6-2,6-1 victory over Kyle Reiss of Oxford while Jason Swails & Kiran Avarapalli of Vestal defeated Gangavalli & Robson of Delhi 6-2,6-2 to secure the final doubles qualifying spot.
The winner, Jordan Smith In the singles final, Warren put up a gallant effort, trying to counter Smith’s big forehand and pace with well placed deep groundstrokes and carefully chosen successful ventures to net. In the end, however, Smith’s serve, power and experience proved too much. Smith’s serve exhibited dominating, raw power. He was only broken once, that occuring with Smith leading 5-0, 40-30 in the 2nd set. He served numerous aces and unreturnable serves, all of which left Warren shaking his head and mumbling. Warren did his best to get back in the match, but Jordan was just too good.This is Smith’s 2nd championship title.
winners Sarath and Kyle, with coach Dan Palmer. Horseheads won the Section 1V team title last week over Vestal.
The doubles finals was hard fought and closer than the score indicates. The Horseheads duo got off to a quick start, leading 5-1, but then Chris & Eric settled down and started to play agressive doubles. The 2nd set was tight. Neither team took a lead until 5-5, when Kyle & Sarath broke serve. They then easily held serve to close out the match. There were numerous volley exchanges and poaching in the 2nd set by both teams. Chris and Eric really picked up their serve returns and hit numerous groundstrokes by and through the Horseheads team. They both became aggressive at net as well. But lack of consistent serving hurt them, causing them to give back hard-earned breaks of serve. The Horseheads team kept their compusure at all times, and proved just too steady and solid. All in all, a high quality doubles match.
Chris & Eric, all smiles as they realize they are still going to the states, or that they have to stand there until they finally do smile!
Also worthy of mention are the 3rd place playoff matches. The Vestal tandem of Swails & Avarapalli dominated their doubles match, producing their best effort of the tournament. Jason the senior captain was the difference, taking over the court. He seemed everywhere at net, and the Delhi team could not guide the ball away from his racquet. Jason missed very few serve returns and his 1st serve percentage was tremendous. He & Kiran compliment each other well. Both played a match they should be proud of.
Jason & Kiran
Chris Nosky also deserves special mention. A home-grown product under the tutelage and watchful eye of his coach Mike Rullo, Chris has risen to become one of the top juniors in the area. Chris came close to pulling off the unthinkable on Friday, stretching Jordan Smith to 3 sets, losing by only one break of serve. Chris had to qualify for the states the hard way, playing four matches. His concentration and improved play are to be applauded.
Many of these competitors are BTC juniors. Smith is a BTC veteran, almost growing up at the club. Warren has made the trek each Sunday all the way from Oneonta to drill in our Gold group. Swails and Avarapalli are BTC mainstays (both showed dramatic improvement this year) while Goroleski & Rose also fine tune their games here in between all the other sports they play. Congrats to all, and a special thanks to the BTC teaching staff for all the hard work they put into the juniors. Best of luck to all in the states at the National Tennis Center next week.
