Strong singles and dynamic doubles: Our 2023 Boys Tennis Super Team and All-Stars
It was quite the year for the Apponequet boys tennis team as the Lakers captured their third straight South Coast Conference title, completed a perfect regular season and reached the MIAA Div. 3 Elite 8. Dartmouth also had an impressive season, winning the Southeast Conference title and reaching the Div. 2 Sweet 16.
Here's a look at the top boys tennis players on the SouthCoast in 2023.
SUPER TEAM
Nate Belmore, Apponequet, Junior
Belmore earned his second selection to the Super Team after going undefeated at No. 2 singles for the South Coast Conference champion Lakers during the regular season. He finished with a record of 18-1, which included three rounds in the state tournament. His only loss came in the playoffs to Dover-Sherbourne. “He’s like a number one,” said Apponequet head coach Nate Eleuterio, noting that Belmore played first singles for the Lakers as a sophomore. “He’d be a number one on most teams. He loves winning and he’s so intense. He gets himself fired up. He has a really good serve. He can mix in slicing the ball and topspin.” Belmore was named an SCC All-Star.
Luke Bloom-Glover, Dartmouth, Junior
Making the jump to first singles, Bloom-Glover enjoyed success against the top tennis players in the Southeast Conference and on the SouthCoast. He split with Standard-Times Player of the Year Will Horton of Apponequet and swept B-R’s No. 1 singles player to finish with a record of 14-2. He was named the MVP of the SEC. “He was playing No. 3 last year and this is his first year at No. 1,” said Dartmouth head coach Donald York. “He worked hard in the offseason and was amazing. His movement and his ability to stay in long points was impressive. He’s a steady player and good mover, and a fun player to watch.”
Kole Pinto, Fairhaven, Sophomore
Pinto followed up an impressive freshman debut in which he was named The Standard-Times Player of the Year with a strong sophomore campaign. Pinto’s lone loss this year at first singles came against Apponequet’s Will Horton, the 2023 Player of the Year. Pinto, an SCC All-Star and co-captain, finished with a record of 15-1. “He’s got all the shots,” said Fairhaven head coach Mike Gomes. “He’s got a good serve and he’s got groundstrokes. He’s a good athlete. He has a desire to improve. He wants to get better. He trains all year around.”
Jason Demers, Senior, and Ethan Clark, Junior, Apponequet
Demers and Clark were perfect together at first doubles during the regular season, helping the Lakers capture the South Coast Conference championship. They finished the year with a record of 16-2 with their two losses coming in the playoffs. “They’re a good balance,” said Apponequet head coach Nate Eleuterio. “Ethan has been playing for a long time. He has all the tennis stuff down. Jason is more the athlete and he’d grind it out. They would complement each other well.” The pair were named SCC All-Stars.
Charlie Camisa, Junior, and Owen Nielson, Junior, Dartmouth
This was the first year that Camisa and Nielson played first doubles together and they enjoyed success, going 7-2. The pair were named to the Southeast Conference All-Star team for helping Dartmouth win the conference championship. “Charlie is extremely competitive, fast and strong,” said Dartmouth head coach Donald York. “Owen is 6-foot-4 and lanky. He had a big serve and forehand.”
ALL-STAR TEAM
Judson Cardinali, Apponequet, Sophomore
Cardinali made contributions up and down the lineup for Apponequet, helping the Lakers capture their third straight South Coast Conference championship. He played most of his matches at third singles and went 11-3 there. He also went 2-1 in doubles action, won a first singles match and lost a second singles match.
Isaac Petruski, Fairhaven, Senior
Petruski was a force at second singles for the Blue Devils, going 12-1 in his final season. “Isaac doesn’t play at all besides during tennis season,” said Fairhaven head coach Mike Gomes. “He’s just a skilled guy. He’s a tough player. He’s got big weapons. Once he got going, he was overpowering opposing players.”
Shreyas Rathod, Dartmouth, Junior
Rathod was instrumental in Dartmouth winning the Southeast Conference championship with his contributions at second singles. He went 13-3 at second singles in addition to winning a doubles match. He was named an SEC All-Star. “He’s a talented grinder and quick on his feet,” said Dartmouth head coach Donald York. “He’s a very smart player. He played doubles last year, but he improved a ton and moved up.”
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Markus Pierre, Senior, and Peter Le Gassick, Sophomore, Old Rochester
They didn’t play together often, but when they did they were unstoppable. Splitting his time between third singles and first doubles, Pierre went undefeated at 11-0. “He’s dependable,” said Old Rochester head coach Filipe Miguel. “He’s got good character. He never shows emotions. He’s always calm and shows poise on the court. He's a good role model for the rest of the teammates on and off the court.” Le Gassick finished the year 12-2 at first doubles.
Kevin Leong, Senior, and Samir Hijazi, Senior, Dartmouth
The senior captains played together just seven times at second doubles this year, but lost just once, helping Dartmouth win the Southeast Conference championship. “I didn’t always play them together because I didn’t need to, but they were super solid at second doubles,” said Dartmouth head coach Donald York. “They were leaders on the team on and off the court.”
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HONORABLE MENTION
Matt Carusi, Bishop Stang, Senior; Thomas Clavell, Bishop Stang, Sophomore; Chris Pacheco, Bishop Stang, Senior; Trevor Squire, Bishop Stang, Senior; Will Harrington, Dartmouth, Sophomore; Jesse Chen, Fairhaven, Freshman; Alex Hu, Fairhaven, Freshman; Chris Hu, Fairhaven, Junior; Coby Yin, Fairhaven, Junior; Harrison Zheng, Fairhaven, Freshman; Hugo Jacob-Reig, New Bedford, Sophomore; Jacob Hadley, Old Rochester, Junior; Ethan Miguel, Old Rochester, Freshman; Alex Burdick, Wareham, Senior; Boon Oulette, Wareham, Freshman.
This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: 2023 Standard-Times Boys Tennis Super Team and All-Stars
