The opening round of the state tennis singles tournament was held over the weekend and many local players took part.

By the end of Saturday’s competition, 16 boys and girls remained in Region 5 and among them are several familiar names.

Waynflete sophomore Brandon Thompson is the top seed for the boys. He had no trouble with Cheverus sophomore Conner O’Neil (who advanced with a win over Cape Elizabeth’s Calvin Alden by default) in 6-0, 6-0 victory.

Waynflete junior Devin Van Dyke, seeded second, advanced with a 6-0, 6-0 win over Portland senior Brian Watson (who had defeated Bonny Eagle’s Ben Hall 8-1).

Five other boys made it to the Round of 32, but their run ended there.

Cheverus sophomore William Lenk, who advanced with an 8-5 win over Biddeford’s Evan Kelly, was eliminated by No. 12 Dan McGovern of Windham (4-6, 2-6). Deering senior Jay Weaving (an 8-2 victor over South Portland’s Corey Doucette in his first match) lost to Greely’s Thomas Dillman, the No. 3 seed, 1-6, 3-6. Deering freshman Jesse Butler, who downed Yarmouth’s Lane O’Connor by default, fell 0-6, 0-6 to No. 9 Nicholas Tolman of Scarborough. Portland sophomore Alexander Jordan, who beat South Portland’s Tanner Burgdorf 8-3, lost 0-6, 2-6 to No. 8 David Born of Westbrook. Waynflete junior Ross Cummings, who beat Biddeford’s Alex Chase 8-1, was eliminated 0-6, 1-6 by No. 11 Dan Crocker of Windham.

Portland junior Karl Fisher lost 1-8 to Scarborough’s Tim Prybylowicz in his first match. Cheverus senior Connor Shoos was an 0-8 loser to Yarmouth’s Ben Robinson, seeded 10th, in the first round. Deering senior E.J. Googins fell 1-8 to Tad Olson of Marshwood in the same round.

On the girls’ side, top-seeded Senior Christine Ordway of Waynflete, who won the championship as a freshman and sophomore before losing in the final to Camille Jania of Scarborough last year, got through her initial test with ease, downing South Portland’s Amanda Junkins, 6-0, 6-0.

McAuley senior Erin Woodbury, ranked eighth, downed Deering senior Megan Hedrich, 8-0, in the preliminary round, then eliminated Kennebunk’s Halley Peterson, 6-1, 6-0.

Portland senior Maggie Swann, seeded 10th, was an 8-3 victor over Biddeford’s Sam Tardiff and a 6-1, 6-4 winner over NYA’s Sarah Jordan.

McAuley freshman Addie Devine, the No. 16 seed, beat Westbrook’s Kelly DiPietrantonio, 8-5, in the preliminary round, then held off Scarborough’s Amy Buttarazzi, 6-2, 6-2.

Waynflete senior Mariam Qazi beat Cape Elizabeth’s Bridget Walsh, 8-1, in the preliminary round, but was then eliminated, 1-6, 2-6 by No. 5 Analise Kump of Falmouth. Portland junior Liza Iselborn, a winner over Bonny Eagle’s Karli Kesson by default in the preliminary round, was beaten 0-6, 2-6 by No. 9 Hannah Shorty of Gorham in the next round. Waynflete sophomore Maddie High, an 8-1 preliminary round winner over Thornton Academy’s Lexie Carter, was eliminated, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5) by No. 14 Stacey Niedoroda of Windham in the best match of the day.

Deering senior Amy Currie (1-8 to No. 7 Thu-Trang Ho of NYA) and Rams junior Rachel Miller (6-8 to Niedoroda), along with Portland junior Mary Moran (5-8 to No. 12 Hannah Potter of Yarmouth), all lost in the preliminary round.

Action to come

Competition continues Friday, May 29 with the statewide Round of 44 prelims and Round of 32. The Round of 16 and quarterfinals are Saturday, May 30. The semifinals and championships are Monday, June 1. Each of those rounds will be contested at Bates College in Lewiston.

Portland tandem takes doubles crown

The all-Portland Southern Maine Activities Association girls’ doubles championship was held last Wednesday and Audrey Seiz and Greer Chapman defeated Corey Carmichael and Maggie Eismeier in a close match to take top honors.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net.

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