Delbarton holds off Chatham, Mendham to defend Morris County Tournament tennis title
MORRIS TOWNSHIP — Hudson Bonetti knew his mom had been a good tennis player back in her day. But until he qualified for the Morris County Tournament second singles final on Saturday, he didn't know how good.
Kirstyn Perkins won the MCT second singles final as a West Morris senior back in 1994. Her father, Bob Perkins, is a former tennis pro and Hudson Bonetti's coach. She told her son, a Delbarton sophomore, to go for family bragging rights.
Bonetti won his match and Delbarton defended its MCT team title again on Monday afternoon. It was a sweeter memory for Bonetti, who had lost at first doubles with Anthony Reale in last year's final.
"I was happy for her, and I wanted to make her happy for me as well, to have her be proud of me," said Bonetti, a Harding resident.
"I felt the same way going into it, a lot of nerves but confident. But it feels better to help the team win."
The Green Wave has won 20 of the last 21 MCT tennis titles, surpassing Chatham by two points and Mendham by four. They celebrated with a Chick-Fil-A delivery, which arrived at Villa Walsh's tennis courts during Monday's MCT finals.
The Cougars won both doubles matches, taking first doubles to three sets. Oskar Jaroker and Vishon Vayas outlasted Delbarton at first doubles. Chatham second doubles juniors who are new to varsity, Joseph Yang and Riley Becker, showed off the experience got as alternates together last spring.
"It feels good to contribute to the team, and be part of such a great team." Yang said.
A pair of Minutemen brothers advanced to Monday's final. Senior Liam Kilmer emerged as the MCT first singles champ, and junior Owen Kilmer lost to Bonetti.
This was Liam Kilmer's first season playing for Mendham. Owen Kilmer came out for the high school team as a sophomore.
"It's really fun," said Liam Kilmer, who has signed a National Letter of Intent with Bucknell. "I really liked playing for my high school team. It's different being part of a team than playing by yourself. It motivates me."
Team scores
Delbarton 22; Chatham 20; Mendham 18; Montville and Morris Hills 10; Morristown Beard and Whippany Park 9; Hanover Park and Randolph 8; West Morris 7; Morristown 6; Mountain Lakes, Morris Knolls, Parsippany Hills 5; Madison, Parsippany, Kinnelon and Mount Olive 3; Pequannock 1; Roxbury and Boonton 0.
Final round results
First singles: Liam Kilmer (Mendham) def. James Lian (Delbarton), 6-3, 2-1 (ret.); Second singles: Hudson Bonetti (Delbarton) def. Owen Kilmer (Mendham), 6-3, 7-5; Third singles: Jack Gibbons (Delbarton) def. Jamie Eckles (Chatham), 6-4, 6-2; First doubles: Oscar Jaroker and Vishan Vyas (Chatham) def. Anthony Reale and Arjun Bobba (Delbarton), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3; Second doubles: Joseph Yang and Riley Becker (Chatham) def. Jack Wells and Gavin Tripido (Delbarton), 7-5, 6-1.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ boys tennis: Morris County Tournament Delbarton Chatham Mendham
