No. 3 Foxcroft boys post strong 6-1 start to open hardcourt season

By Bill Pearson
Staff Writer

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — Despite losing six of their top seven players from a year ago, the Foxcroft Academy Pony tennis team is still one of the top squads in Eastern Maine Class B action. The Ponies are third in the heal points following victories over local rivals Dexter, 4-1, and Piscataquis, 5-0, last week. The Ponies started the season 5-0, but suffered their only loss to No. 1 Mount Desert Island who sits atop the Eastern Maine Class B standings at 6-0.

Observer photo/Bill Pearson

    DOUBLES ACE — Foxcroft doubles player Josh Bombero looks to hit a serve against his Piscataquis Community High School opponents during a May 1 match. Bombero and his partner, Henry Lu, defeated the No.1 Pirate doubles team of Kaiel Kand and Andrew White, 8-2.

    Foxcroft coach Ryan Dankert has been able to withstand the loss of so many good players because his previous team was filled with a bench of young, promising talent.
    “I’m not surprised at all. Our players 8-10 last year had lot of skill and were waiting for their opportunity to crack the lineup,” Dankert said. “They’ve had that opportunity this season and the results have been very good for us.”
    The Pony singles lineup is headlined by returning senior Sam Keane who has shown an improved backhand this season. His game is still predicated by consistent ground strokes and outstanding footwork. Dankert described his top player as a consistent player who uses his athletic ability, speed and patience to wear down his opponents.
    “He’s very athletic and quick on the court,” said Dankert. “Sam plays a lot of long rallies and his opponents have a difficult time getting the ball by him because he’s so fast.”
    Rounding out the Ponies’ singles lineup is No. 2 player Atticus Dennis and No. 3 KO Zhong. Like Keane, Dennis is a steady player who uses his consistency to wear down opponents. Zhong, however, is the most versatile of the three. He tries to use his penetrating ground strokes to impose his will on matches.
    “KO has by far the most firepower of our singles players. He’s not able to harness all of his shots yet which is why he loses to Sam and Atticus, but he’s starting to become more consistent and a dangerous shotmaker,” Dankert said.
    In the team’s May 3 victory over Dexter, Dankert’s squad showed its depth by winning without his top two players. Zhong assumed the No. 1 role and defeated Dexter’s top player Tarran Curtis, 8-1. Josh Bombero moved up from doubles to play second singles. He beat Spencer Fitzgerald 8-2. Another doubles specialist, Henry Lu, won his third singles match by defeating Nick Colomy 8-0.
    Foxcroft and Dexter split the two doubles matches. The Foxcroft team of David Zheng and Frank Ma defeated the Dexter’s duo of Tyler Salsbury and Anthony Domenech. The Tigers’ loan victory came from Robbie Pratt and Dylan Hanscom who defeated Alan Yang and Blake Arno.
    In Foxcroft’s May 2 win over PCHS, the Ponies faced an inexperienced and undermanned Pirate squad. PCHS has a squad with several freshmen and sophomores who have been thrust into their lineup. No. 1 Pirate Trevor Duby is the most experienced player, but he has been on the sidelines for most of the season. Duby injured his ankle in February at the end of the basketball season. His absence has caused coach Emily Wilson to adjust her team’s lineup throughout the spring.
    “We really miss Trevor. His absence means everyone moves up one spot which has made it a more  challenging season so far,” Wilson said. “We’ve got a lot of younger players who are brand new to the game and are still learning.”

Observer photo/Bill Pearson

    SERVE’EM UP — Piscataquis No. 2 tennis player Delan Patterson hits a serve on May 1 during his match against Foxcroft’s Atticus Dennis. Patterson lost the match,8-2, as the Ponies won all five matches versus the Pirates. The Pirates won one of three matches last week as they split a pair against Penobscot Valley on May 3.

    PCHS has only won twice this season. The Pirates stand at 2-6 which places them in 10th place in the Eastern Maine Class C standings. Duby returned to the lineup during their May 3 doubleheader with Penobscot Valley. He lost both matches to Howler No. 1 Robert Hallett. His return allowed Mitchell Noyes to return to the No. 2 slot. He won both of his matches defeating the Howlers’ Jerry Faloon, 8-3 and 8-5.
    “Mitchell is only a sophomore so he’s still learning how to play, but he’s been successful this year.
    He uses his speed to retrieve a lot of balls and his serve is steadily improving,” Wilson said.
     Foxcroft beat to Penquis, 5-0-, on Monday.
    The Ponies and Pirates return to the courts on Wednesday against each other with matches being played in both Dover-Foxcroft and Guilford.