CAMBRIDGE — Newton can now claim to be the top tennis town in the commonwealth.
The Div. 1 boys final featured a battle between Newton North and Newton South, which North prevailed in via an Alexander Fine third-singles victory that tipped the scale for a 3-2 victory. On the girls side, Newton South swept Boston Latin, 5-0, to claim the title.
On the boys side, the Tigers relied on the three singles groups to get it done.
“We’ve kind of been living off the singles this year, we figured it might happen again,” head coach Phil Goldberg said. “You saw the nerves at the end; (it was about) whoever could step up for a couple of points, just hit their shots. We got a point here, a point there and were a little braver in the end. That was the difference.”
Newton South took home both first and second doubles via scores of 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) and 6-2, 6-1. This put the pressure on the singles players but they delivered.
No. 1 singles player Johnny Wastcoat won his match 1-6, 6-3 and 6-2. No. 2 singles player Colin Hwang took his in straight sets, 6-1, 6-3. Then Fine in the deciding match outlasted Graham Horine, 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3.
As he claimed the victory, Fine fell to the ground in jubilation.
“I’ve been watching since my brother and sister were here, they were Tigers for four years,” Fine said. “I’ve grown up watching this team and it is surreal to win for this team. I collapsed, I was full of raw emotion.”
Members of Newton South celebrate after securing the team title at the MIAA Div. 1 tennis state final. (Libby O’Neill/Boston Herald)
The girls side was less dramatic as it was decided when Manel Guermazi won her second singles match 7-5, 7-5. She tossed her racket in the air upon securing the victory and delivering the Lions their first state title since 1977.
“I dreamed of that moment for so long,” Guermazi said. “I threw my racket and saw my team come out and hug me and I saw everyone crying. I can’t even describe it, happy, relieved. It’s everything.”
No. 1 singles player Olivia Whitaker was also crucial to the victory, securing her match 6-4, 6-2 and putting an early momentum point on the board. The junior returned to the Lions after a season away from the program last year and Saturday’s moment made her very happy she came back to play for the school.
“I was really excited to get back,” Whitaker said. “It’s been really fun playing with the team and having such a fun playoff run.”
Nika Presayzen claimed third singles 6-2, 7-5, while first doubles won 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 and second doubles won 6-3, 6-2. Head coach Noura Guermazi said this year’s victory was for all of the previous teams that came up just short.
“It means a lot this year in particular,” Guermazi said. “In the past two years, we lost in the semifinals. If we learn lessons from the losses, we’re going to get better. They came back to work, they worked every day, and they have a great work ethic.”