Chanan Batra, Print Sports Editor
Boys’ varsity tennis has finished league play and is preparing for team play in the CIF playoffs.   The squad played Samo in its last league meet of the year on April 30, and though every varsity athlete won a match, Samo eventually proved victorious as a team, winning 10-8.  Junior Natan Dorenbaum was proud of the team’s effort despite the loss to Samo.
“We came up with some good wins, although it was upsetting that we didn’t beat Samo,” Dorenbaum said.  “Still, I’m proud of our team for competing and always fighting despite our rough finish to league play.”
Beverly rebounded at league finals two days later though.  In league doubles, junior Austin Towns and sophomore Ethan Kunin swung their way to the semi-finals as a doubles’ team, but eventually lost to a doubles’ squad from Samo.  Similarly, junior Cosimo Bocchi and junior Eric Busi advanced to the semi-finals as a doubles’ team before also losing to a team from Samo.
In addition to league play, four select varsity athletes also ventured to Ojai Valley for an invitational tournament on the weekend of April 26-28.  Kunin, Towns, Busi and junior Drew Freeman were selected to represent Beverly.  Freeman competed in the boys’ 18 and under singles tournament, while Kunin and Towns competed as a doubles’ team in the 18 and under doubles’ tournament.  Busi competed in the boys’ 16 and under tournament as an individual.  Though none of the athletes won a match, Freeman believes the tournament was both fun and a great experience.
“It was very fun being able to go up to Ojai and compete with the best players in Southern California,” Freeman said.  “Also, it was great being able to see some of the top college players from the Pac-12.”
The varsity team is comprised of mainly juniors and sophomores, and experience is something the squad somewhat lacks going into CIF, according to junior Jonathan Berger.
“We are moving into CIF Playoffs with a relatively young team, as most of us are juniors,” Berger said.  “Next year, through the hard work and determination of the team, we aspire to be the best Beverly tennis team ever to step onto the courts.”
As for this year, the Normans are the fourth seed in division two of CIF.  The tennis squad had its first round CIF match against unranked Rowland Heights on Wednesday, May 9.  They defeated Rowland Heights 12-6, and will compete against Chadwick on Friday, May 11.