This has been a most hectic week for Waynflete sophomore Patrick Ordway.

He has taken final exams, competed in the state schoolboy tennis singles tournament and helped the Flyers boys’ team advance in the Western Class C team tournament.

“It’s definitely not easy,” said Ordway. “You’ve got to focus on what’s important: grades first and tennis second.”

Except, of course, for today.

“Definitely, tennis first,” said Ordway.

That’s because the boys’ and girls’ state champions will be determined today at Bates College in Lewiston when the singles tournaments conclude with the semifinals at 9:30 a.m. and finals at 1 p.m.

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The top four seeds in each group have advanced, leaving many to anticipate a great day of tennis. These players often dominated their opponents in the regular season. For example, the girls’ top seed, Kennebunk’s Maria Varano, didn’t lose a set all season. But now they get to play opponents of similar talent.

“I’m excited knowing these matches are going to be close,” said Ordway, the No. 1 boys’ seed and the state runner-up last year as a freshman.

The boys’ tournament appears to be wide open. Ordway split during the season with his semifinal opponent, Matt Gilman of Cape Elizabeth, and beat third seed Justin Brogan of Falmouth twice in close matches.

John Bapst’s Bob Tom Flynn is the wild card, an exceptional player who is playing at his best.

Ordway hopes the experience he gained advancing to the finals last year gives him an edge this year.

“I hope it helps, having a little more experience in this tournament,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to be in this tournament. The finals are like a dream to me.”

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Varano, a junior playing high school tennis for the first time, is ranked ninth in New England and rates as the favorite.

But she faces plenty of competition. Falmouth has two players in the semis — juniors Analise Kump (last year’s runner-up) and Annie Criscione (a two-time semifinalist) — and Brunswick freshman Maisie Silverman is capable of winning it all.

Paul Gaylord, the girls’ coach at Kennebunk, said Varano is quite excited about her team experience this year.

“She has just really loved the experience,” he said. “With the singles, she knows these girls and they know her. They’ve hit against each other. She’s really looking forward to it.”

Kump, who has recovered slowly from a shoulder injury that dampened the start of her high school season, and Criscione regularly face off against each other in practice.

“At this point, they are the best competition they have for each other,” said Sandra Stone, the Falmouth girls’ coach.

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“They’re both strong, they play with great depth. Most of the matches don’t push them like they do each other in practice.”

Staff Writer Mike Lowe can be contacted at 791-6422 or::

mlowe@pressherald.com

Twitter: MikeLowePPH

 


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