The Wyoming Seminary boys tennis team poses for a team photo after Tuesday's win.
In the 3rd Singles match Wyoming Seminarys Jerry Tang lined up accross the net from Max Brubacker of Lancaster Mennonite cv17tangp4 Warren Ruda / The Citizens' Voice In the 3rd Singles match Wyoming Seminarys Jerry Tang lined up accross the net from Max Brubacker of Lancaster Mennonite cv17tangp4 Warren Ruda / The Citizens' Voice
KINGSTON — Some high school sports are followed so closely that statistics, film and scouting reports are readily available on teams.
But that's not the case with PIAA boys tennis, making Wyoming Seminary's 4-1 win against Lancaster Mennonite in the first round of the state playoffs Tuesday all the more impressive.
"We really don't know anything. We got the lineup a couple of days ago," said Blue Knights head coach Allison Joanlanne. "You plug a couple names in — especially at the top — and we did find out that their top guy was nationally ranked. We knew he was good, so we could imagine that the whole team is probably pretty deep.
"But that's about it. I don't have anything else about strategy on how to play each person, because everyone plays different. That's the beauty of tennis. You could have all sorts of styles and power."
The lack of a scouting report places much importance on a players' "game IQ," as well as their ability to adjust on the fly and take notes from coaches between sets.
The Blue Knights clinched victory on Andrew Schukraft's win — 6-3, 7-5 — in No. 2 singles, in which teammates loudly cheered him on from the upper deck at Wyoming Valley Indoor Tennis Club.
"They definitely helped," said Schukraft, of Dallas. "They've done that for me all season; it's great to have them behind me, pushing me on."
One of eight remaining teams in the tournament, Sem advances to play District 7's third-place team Quaker Valley — a 3-2 winner against District 10 champion Fairview — in the quarterfinals 9:30 a.m. Friday at Hershey Racquet Club.
The aforementioned nationally ranked player from Lancaster Mennonite was senior William Wanner. According to tennisrecruiting.net, he's a three-star recruit; the No. 6 player in Pennsylvania; and No. 225 player nationally.
Wanner blew past Eamon Gibbons in No. 1 singles — 6-0, 6-0 — to give Lancaster Mennonite an immediate 1-0 lead.
The Blue Knights answered with back-to-back wins in doubles, by Michael Kim/Will Ziegler and Andrew Kim/Duncan Lumia, setting the stage for Schukraft to clinch the win.
Schukraft's opponent, Joseph Jing, was very good with handling returns and played more of a finesse game, whereas Schukraft hit with more power.
"When I got the opportunity to hit it hard, I definitely hit it hard," said Schukraft, a senior. "But there's a time to play it safe and keep the ball in, too."
Schukraft played like the veteran and four-year starter he is to win the match, while Jerry Tang also picked up a win in No. 3 singles.
Great Valley 5, Abington Heights 0
While District 2 Class 2A champion Wyoming Seminary moved on, Class 3A champ Abington Heights opened up Tuesday's double-header at Wyoming Valley Indoor Tennis Club with a loss.
District 1's third-place team, Great Valley, of Chester County, made light work of the Comets and beat them without losing a match.
Wyoming Seminary 4, Lancaster Mennonite 1
SINGLES: 1. William Wanner (LM) def. Eamon Gibbons 6-0, 6-0. 2. Andrew Schukraft (Sem) def. Joseph Jing 6-3, 7-5. 3. Jerry Tang (Sem) vs. Max Brubaker 4-6, 6-4, 2-0 (halted). DOUBLES: 1. Michael Kim/Will Ziegler (Sem) def. Charlie Gish/Dylan Campbell 6-3, 6-4. 2. Andrew Kim/Duncan Lumia def. Ethan Beiler/Jeffrey Lile 6-4, 6-1.
Great Valley 5, Abington Heights 0
SINGLES: 1. Sameer Gangoli (GV) def. Bailey Harris 6-0, 6-1. 2. Sam Kesti (GV) def. Timmy Christman 6-1, 6-3. 3. Nikhil Gangoli (GV) def. Brian Ostrowski 6-0, 6-0. DOUBLES: 1. Ryan Hamel/Amish Saini (GV) def. Spencer Gilbert/Owen Holland 6-2, 6-0. 2. Marc Lussier/Warrick Parvess (GV) def. Rory Harris/Varun Iyengar 6-0, 6-2.
Contact the writer: mbufano@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2060, @CVBufano on Twitter
Source: PIAA tennis: Wyoming Seminary reaches Hershey
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