On one of the rainy days last week, with his team’s afternoon match against Scarborough already postponed, Windham boys’ tennis coach Wayne Martin considered holding practice because the sun unexpectedly broke through.

Trouble was, he had a mandatory staff meeting because it was an in-service day.

That’s when Devin Pelletier took over.

A senior who plays No. 3 singles after a year at doubles and two as a junior varsity member, Pelletier qualified for the Class A wrestling state tournament at 170 pounds and was a major contributor to Windham’s state championship soccer team.

He’s also among the top 10 in his class academically and was recently accepted by the Air Force Academy.

“He’s one of the better leaders I’ve had in the 13 years I’ve been coaching,” Martin said. “He said, ‘Hey, let’s go to the cardio room. Let’s do something. Let’s not just go home.’ “

Pelletier started firing off text messages to teammates and led a captains’ practice that afternoon. Not one player missed it.

“He’s a pretty impressive kid,” Martin said.

Pelletier entered the week a perfect 4-0 after a 7-5, 7-6 (3) victory against Biddeford last Monday. He had yet to win a set without dropping a game, so they’re usually close, but he hadn’t been extended to three sets yet, either.

“I can’t say enough great things about him,” Martin said. “He works as hard as anybody I’ve ever coached.”

ONLY THREE of the 16 girls’ teams in Western Class A entered the week undefeated: Cheverus, McAuley and Windham. McAuley beat Windham on Monday and hosts Cheverus on Wednesday.

THE FOLLY of Heal points to determine seeds for the tennis team tournaments is once more apparent. A quick look at the revamped (and impressively so) Maine Principals’ Association website shows the Falmouth girls ranked third behind fellow Western Maine Conference rivals Yarmouth and Greely, both of whom have one loss.

At 6-0 after beating North Yarmouth Academy on Monday, the four-time defending Class B state champion was 360-20 in games this spring and could hold its own against most boys’ teams.

Last week, Coach Sandra Stone sat her top two singles players (and in one case all three) against two overmatched opponents. Not that every team facing Falmouth doesn’t feel that way, but still.

No system is perfect, of course, but a common-sense component might be a welcome addition to insure that two clearly superior teams wouldn’t have to face each other before the regional finals.

THE SEMIFINALS and finals of the state singles tournament, scheduled for Memorial Day weekend, have been moved from their traditional home at Bates College to the blue courts of Colby College in Waterville.

The move was made to avoid a conflict with commencement ceremonies at Bates.

QUALIFYING PLAY for the singles tournament begins this weekend in five regions, centered in Caribou, Orono, Lewiston, Portland, Augusta (boys) and Topsham (girls). Regional seeding meetings will be held Wednesday night at five nearby high schools.

Here are the qualifying slots for each region: Caribou (4), Orono (11), Lewiston (8), Augusta-Topsham (8), Portland (17).

Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at: gjordan@pressherald.com

Twitter: GlennJordanPPH