Patriot tennis teams compete in state tourneys

The Revere middle school softball team celebrates its successful season with a season-ending banquet at Papa Gino’s in Revere. The squad won eight games, competing almost exclusively against high school freshman teams.

The Revere middle school softball team celebrates its successful season with a season-ending banquet at Papa Gino’s in Revere. The squad won eight games, competing almost exclusively against high school freshman teams.

The 16th seeded Revere High (RHS) boys tennis team took on top-seeded and top-ranked Concord Carlisle in the opening round of the MIAA Division 1 North State Tennis Tournament Saturday.

Although the Patriots lost their match by a 5-0 score at Concord, RHS head coach Mike Flynn said the early exit from the tourney didn’t detract from what has been an otherwise outstanding season for his team.

“We knew we were taking on the best team in the state,” said Flynn, “but we gave it our best shot. Even so, this has been a great year for the Revere High tennis program. This is a great group of kids who qualified for the tourney for the first time in many years at Revere High.”

The match marked the last time that most of the varsity team will be playing for the Patriots, led by first singles Steaven Nguyen, second singles Kristi Kasuli, third singles Richie Leng, the first doubles duo of John Nguyen and Michael Truong, and second doubles player Carlos Monroy. Seniors Victor Wongwajarachot and Brian Sou also are graduating.

Postseason accolades poured in for the Patriots. The second doubles tandem of Monroy and Francesco Tartaglia (who came the closest in their match at Concord in a 6-1, 6-2 loss) were named first team all-stars in the Northeastern Conference Large Division in which the Pats finished in second place with an 8-2 mark.

Leng was name to the second team at third singles, while No. 1 Steaven Nguyen and No. 2 Kasuli received Honorable Mention, as did John Nguyen and Truong at first doubles.

“We’ll miss our seniors, but, hopefully, we can build on our this year’s success in the years ahead,” said Flynn.

Girls tennis team falls in close match

The Revere High girls tennis team dropped a close 3-2 match to Haverhill in an opening round contest of the MIAA Division 1 North State Tennis Tournament.

Sabrina Sot won her match at second singles with a brilliant comeback effort by a score of 2-6, 6-4, 6-1, while No. 3 Elam Meskovic was a winner in straight sets, 6-1, 6-1.

The first doubles duo of Cleopatra Duque and Victoria Mauro fought hard, but fell by a 3-6, 2-6 margin. Donna Le and Carolina Zaneta at second doubles overcame a shaky 0-6 start in the first set and battled gamely in their second set, but dropped a tight 4-6 decision.

Zerina Dervisevic, playing in the No. 1 singles slot, came out on the short end of her encounter.

Despite the defeat, RHS head coach Carla Maniscalco reflected favorably upon her Lady Patriots’ season. “We had a great year,” said Maniscalco. “We qualified for the tournament for the first time in many years and it was an exciting experience for the girls. They worked very hard all season, and I’m proud of what they accomplished.”

Dervisevic, a senior who played her last match in an RHS uniform, led the list of postseason all-star accolades for the Lady Pats, as Zerina was named a second team all-star in the Northeastern Conference Large Division. The first doubles tandem of Duque (another senior) and Mauro also were named second team all-stars.

Honorable Mention went to Sot, another senior, at second singles.

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