Last year they dyed their hair blue.

This year they opted for temporary tattoos of penguins and puffins from the “Happy Feet” film.

“We’re going more wild-side,” said Analise Kump of Falmouth, twisting an arm to display an emperor penguin adorning her bicep.

The girls of the Falmouth High tennis team are always looking for something extra, something unusual to add a little excitement to their annual appearance in the Class B state final.

Perhaps that’s because the matches themselves rarely deviate from the form — a 5-0 shutout in straight sets — to which Falmouth has become accustomed.

That was the case a year ago when Falmouth beat a young Waterville team at Colby College, and the lineups are quite similar for the rematch this morning, also on the blue courts of Colby.

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That was also the case in all 15 matches Falmouth played this season, as Olivia Leavitt (at No. 3 singles) and Marlena Lantos (joining Katie Ryan at second doubles) plugged the only holes in a formidable squad that looks to extend its winning streak to 73 matches.

The format for the six state championship matches at Colby today is B, A, C with action scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Here’s a look at each match.

CLASS B

GIRLS: The four Falmouth seniors — Kump, Lantos, Annie Criscione and Steffi Rothweiler — have never experienced team defeat.

Falmouth rolled through No. 8 York, No. 4 Lincoln Academy and No. 2 Yarmouth in Western Maine without dropping a set.

Waterville also brings a 15-0 record into the match, with an all-sophomore singles lineup identical to the one from last year. The Purple Panthers shut out No. 8 John Bapst and No. 5 Mt. Desert Island before beating No. 2 Caribou 4-1 in the Eastern Maine final.

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BOYS: The top seeds in each region return to Colby for a rematch of the 2011 final, won by Falmouth in straight sets over Ellsworth. The Eagles are seeking their first state title since 1996 in their third appearance in four years. They shut out No. 8 Presque Isle and No. 4 John Bapst before beating No. 2 MDI, 4-1.

The Yachtsmen have won three state titles in six years. They shut out No. 8 Yarmouth and No. 4 Maranacook before a 4-1 victory over No. 3 Cape Elizabeth.

CLASS A

GIRLS: In a matchup of two teams with superior singles, the unbeaten top seeds from each region — Brunswick and McAuley — meet to decide the successor to Lewiston’s six-year reign atop Class A.

Addie Devine, Devri Ramsey and Ally Strawn of McAuley haven’t lost a team match this spring.

The same goes for Maisie Silverman — the state singles champion — and Ali Stankiewicz of Brunswick. The doubles may be the deciding factor.

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BOYS: Gorham makes its first appearance in the state finals, thanks to 3-2 victories over No. 3 Scarborough and No. 1 Deering — Gorham lost to both in the regular season — in the regional semis and final.

Gorham shut out No. 7 Cheverus in the quarters. In Eastern Maine, Bangor shut out No. 8 Erskine Academy, No. 5 Messalonskee and No. 3 Hampden Academy, and is after its first state title since 2002.

CLASS C

GIRLS: No team from Eastern Maine has ever won the Class C title. George Stevens Academy (14-2) returns to the title match thanks to 4-1 victories over No. 6 Calais and No. 2 Mattanawcook before shutting out No. 1 Van Buren.

Waynflete (12-3), despite its status as defending state champion, drew only the sixth seed in the West but proceeded to shut out No. 3 Winthrop and No. 2 Dirigo before handing No. 1 Hall-Dale a 4-1 defeat.

BOYS: This marks the third straight year of a Waynflete-George Stevens state final. The Flyers seek their fifth straight title and seventh in eight years with a lineup topped by the 2011 singles state champion, Patrick Ordway.

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As fifth seed, Waynflete rolled over No. 4 Hall-Dale, No. 9 North Yarmouth Academy and No. 2 Dirigo without dropping a set. George Stevens also won three playoff matches by 5-0, over No. 9 Fort Kent, No. 5 Houlton and No. 2 Madawaska.

A year ago, Waynflete dodged five match points before Ben Shapiro held on for a decisive victory at third singles over Alexander Heilner of George Stevens to put the Flyers on top, 3-2. They meet again Saturday.

 

Staff Writer Glenn Jordan can be contacted at 791-6425 or at:

gjordan@pressherald.com

Twitter: GlennJordanPPH


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