Garfield Tennis Playoff Recap
By Adam Friesz
Last Friday Garfield boys and girls tennis teams ended their season with a loss in the division finals and semifinals respectively. These losses cap off a strong season in which the boys finished 9-1 and the girls finished 7-2. Garfield, a member of the south division, was one of the only teams with a full team this year as an abnormal year affected sports participation. Early in the season the team’s coaches engaged their players in scrimmages against north division schools to hone in the team’s skills against more advanced opponents. The Bulldogs utilized this extra practice to start the season on a tear. Boys went undefeated in the regular season, finishing as the #1 seed in the south division. Girls lost just one game and saw a host of 5-0 victories for their strong efforts.
Entering the playoffs the team was confident in its abilities and both boys and girls won 5-0 in their first round matchup against Cleveland High School. Following this win the boys faced West Seattle High School and the girls faced Eastside Catholic High School. The boy’s contest came down to the doubles 3 match, as the teams were tied 2-2. Despite losing the first set 2-6, doubles 3 came back and was propelled to victory by roaring cheers from the whole boys team; they won the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. The girl’s season similarly came down to a tight doubles 3 match which ended in a loss leading to a 2-3 loss in the semifinals.
On Friday, the boy’s team faced Lincoln High School, a team which they had beat earlier in the season 3-2. Garfield started strong with Aiden Taylor, singles 2, winning decisively 6-1, 6-0. Doubles 1, Daniel Casey and Sam Doherty, finished next and won in straight sets despite a string of lost games in the first set. Next, doubles 2, Ezra Ford and Owen Tiffany, lost in straight sets due to their opponents ability to consistently control the net. Bernardo Savitt, singles 1, lost in 3 sets, despite a valiant effort, in a grind that often went to rallies of 3 or more balls. Mirroring the semifinals, doubles 3 was again the deciding match, unfortunately ending in a 2 set defeat 4-6, 2-6.
Though disappointed members of the team celebrated the fun season which saw copious team improvement: “Although we did not get the result we wanted this season, I think everyone played amazing and it’s only getting better from here,” said girl’s team captain Hannah Mai.
Entering the playoffs the team was confident in its abilities and both boys and girls won 5-0 in their first round matchup against Cleveland High School. Following this win the boys faced West Seattle High School and the girls faced Eastside Catholic High School. The boy’s contest came down to the doubles 3 match, as the teams were tied 2-2. Despite losing the first set 2-6, doubles 3 came back and was propelled to victory by roaring cheers from the whole boys team; they won the match 2-6, 6-2, 6-4. The girl’s season similarly came down to a tight doubles 3 match which ended in a loss leading to a 2-3 loss in the semifinals.
On Friday, the boy’s team faced Lincoln High School, a team which they had beat earlier in the season 3-2. Garfield started strong with Aiden Taylor, singles 2, winning decisively 6-1, 6-0. Doubles 1, Daniel Casey and Sam Doherty, finished next and won in straight sets despite a string of lost games in the first set. Next, doubles 2, Ezra Ford and Owen Tiffany, lost in straight sets due to their opponents ability to consistently control the net. Bernardo Savitt, singles 1, lost in 3 sets, despite a valiant effort, in a grind that often went to rallies of 3 or more balls. Mirroring the semifinals, doubles 3 was again the deciding match, unfortunately ending in a 2 set defeat 4-6, 2-6.
Though disappointed members of the team celebrated the fun season which saw copious team improvement: “Although we did not get the result we wanted this season, I think everyone played amazing and it’s only getting better from here,” said girl’s team captain Hannah Mai.