How District 10's boys team tennis champions fared in Tuesday's PIAA tournament
It’s understandable if North Catholic’s boys tennis team has come to dread Westwood Racquet Club.
Tuesday’s appearance there marked the fourth straight season the Trojans opened a PIAA Class 2A tournament at the Zuck Road indoor courts.
Tuesday’s dual against Cathedral Prep also marked the fourth straight year the WPIAL second seeds were eliminated in the first round. North Catholic bowed out against Fairview in 2021 and 2022 and the Ramblers last year and this year.
Each of Prep’s wins over the Cranberry Township program were by 4-1 finals. The latest of those two assured the Ramblers (16-3) of a trip to Hershey Racquet Club for the tournament’s remaining rounds this weekend.
District 10’s champions will face District 12 top seed Masterman (11-3) in one of Friday’s quarterfinals. Their best-of-five dual is scheduled at 2:30 p.m.
“I’m definitely looking forward to having a shot at a state title,” Prep’s Drew Brown said.
Gateway ended McDowell’s hopes of first place in Tuesday’s ensuing PIAA Class 3A first-rounder at Westwood. The Gators, the WPIAL second seeds, blanked the Trojans 5-0.
McDowell, which recorded a mini-upset of Erie High in District 10’s large-school final, concluded the team portion of its season at 7-12.
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‘Happy to play my best’
Prep’s Jonah Ng and Gavin Ferretti, winners of the district’s last three 2A singles tournaments, were easy winners Tuesday.
Ferretti’s 6-0, 6-0 victory over Justin Kontul marked the second straight year he shut out his North Catholic opponent in No. 2 singles.
The Ramblers also swept the dual’s doubles matches. James Casella and Cameron Grieshaber rallied for a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2 win over Alex Foubert and Alex Weber, while Ty Hulick and Drew Brown swept the Trojans’ Braeden Golla and Brennen Lord 6-4, 6-2.
Casella and Brown are Prep’s seniors in coach Pat Grab’s starting lineup. Each were aware there’s reasonable odds the team’s fate this weekend could come down to how they fare in their respective doubles matches.
Casella was fine with that.
“I like the pressure,” he said. “If it comes down to our match, I’ll be happy to play my best.”
Casella and his teammates moved on to face Masterman, which defeated District 1 Lower Moreland 3-2 in Tuesday's dual at Philadelphia's Legacy Tennis. Lower Moreland was a 2023 PIAA 3A finalist.
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Local Trojans also out
McDowell was eliminated by a Gateway program that’s enjoying a tennis revival.
Last season, the Monroeville school claimed its first District 7 team title since 1988. Those Gators advanced to the PIAA 3A semifinals, where they were eliminated by eventual champion Conestoga.
North Allegheny thwarted Gateway’s bid to repeat with a 3-2 victory in their May 8 final. That result set up Tuesday’s state meeting with McDowell.
Based on the match scores, the Gators (13-1) recovered from their initial loss. Their starters in singles, led by Adam Memije, and doubles didn’t drop more than a single game in any set.
“We ran into a pretty good team (Tuesday),” McDowell coach Andy Heinlein said. “They definitely have some talented players. We have a young team, so we’ll work to get better.”
Heinlein took solace he’ll still travel to Hershey for the PIAA 3A doubles tournament over Memorial Day weekend. Noah
Hardesty and Gridley Wright will represent McDowell and the district in that bracket.
Mike has worked for the Erie Times-News editorial department since 1997 and full time with its sports department since 2004. He was the sports editor for the former Titusville Herald from 1991-93.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Cathedral Prep wins, McDowell loses in PIAA boys team tennis tournament
