Varsity Tennis
Varsity tennis scored a solid 9-1 victory over Boston College High School on May 11 to move to 7-1 on the season. Highlights were provided by the doubles play of George von Weise, Peter Nelson, Max Steinert, and Matt Kirkman, who swept all four doubles matches. In rain-soaked conditions on May 4, Fenn faced a Fessenden School team that had defeated them earlier in the season. Coach Rob Morrison’s team emerged with a 4-2 win, securing its first victory over Fessenden since prior to 2000. Sam Barton (#2), Aidan Dove (#3), Tad Scheibe (#4), and Chris Davis (#6) all won closely fought matches in Newton. Scheibe and Alex Brown teamed up in doubles and dominated their match until rain made the courts unplayable.
The annual trip to the clay courts of the Hillside School on May 6 were threatened by spring showers, but the match was played in a small period of window of dry skies. Fenn had difficulty adjusting to the surface, but #1 Ethan Bondick played his top match of the season, winning 8-3, to avenge a tough loss from last season. Seventh grader Sammy Agrawal paired up with two different partners to win both of his doubles matches, helping to secure the 5-3 victory.
Fenn’s JV tennis team defeated an under-manned but determined Rivers School squad on May 11 at Maynard High School, topping the Red Wings 5-3 on the first truly hot afternoon of the spring season. The Rivers lineup reflected a broad range of tennis experience, including several fit, capable athletes who played both singles and doubles. Their first and third singles players had spent upward of 90 minutes in the sun by the time they concluded their well-deserved victories over Sammy Agrawal (6-2) and James Ewing (6-4), respectively. Brendan Regenauer (a 6-3 winner at #2) and William Okurowski (a speedy 6-0 winner at #4) evened the singles results for Fenn, however, so the favorable outcomes in three of the four doubles matches provided the decisive advantage.
Charles Brookby and Miles Berry claimed the #1 Doubles match, 6-3, by gradually finding opportunities on the backhand side of Rivers’ top pairing. This match might easily have tilted the other way, which would have altered the overall outcome notably, but Berry and Brookby played aggressively and committed very few errors. At #2 Doubles, Sawyer MacDonald and Julian Yang battled gamely for 45 minutes to reach a 4-4 score before dropping the ninth and tenth games of their 6-4 set. The third and fourth doubles contests pitted veteran Fenn 8th graders against somewhat less experienced opponents. Peter Blau and Lucian Sharpe won, 6-1, at #3, and Tim First and Henry Patton did the same at #4.
On May 9, JV tennis reversed its fortunes against perennial powerhouse Shady Hill School, recording a methodical 7-1 victory at College Road that halted a three-year run of shutout losses to the blue-and-gold clad visitors from Cambridge. Several of Fenn’s top singles players were rested for the day, yet the team’s deep roster still presented a stiff challenge at each position in the lineup.
Doubles play proceeded quickly, with Alex Natalizio/Miles Berry at #1, and Julian Yang/Sawyer MacDonald at #3, bolting to speedy victories. Natalizio and Berry won at love, while Yang and MacDonald broke serve twice on their way to a 6-1 edge. Shortly thereafter, Lucian Sharpe and Owen Heaton closed out a decisive 6-1 set at #2 Doubles. In the fourth doubles match, Charlie Hutchinson served quite well and, alongside Jefferson Veillard, fought off enough tough serves from Shady Hill’s opposing pair to notch a 6-3 win.
Fenn captain Charles Brookby’s firm groundstrokes handcuffed a spunky but slightly built Shady Hill boy at #4 Singles, and he cruised, 6-1, despite a handful of errant volleys on a windy afternoon. James Ewing earned a similar result at #3 Singles, playing patiently, calmly and tactically. Hank Parker ran into a plucky puncher at #2, who hit accurately from her baseline and forced a number of errors on overheads and volleys. She eventually earned Shady Hill’s lone victory for the day, edging Parker, 6-4. In the top singles match, Sammy Agrawal worked his way around Shady’s big, strong #1, relying on terrific shot placement and a reliable backhand to offset his disadvantages in reach and power. He fashioned a 6-2 scoreline.
On May 6, Pike School’s spirited, well-coached co-ed tennis squad returned to Annursnac Hill in Concord for a match against Fenn’s JV team. The scores tilted Fenn's way at each position in the ladder, much as they did in April, but there were no long faces, nor any particular frustrations, among Pike’s athletes. They approached the match with a spunky, upbeat, friendly manner, and to all observers, the play on the courts reflected what is most important in independent school athletics -- honest effort, respectful competition, and superb sportsmanship.
Charlie Hutchinson and Conrad Krapf picked up a time-shortened 4-2 decision at #4 Doubles, their first-ever victories in Fenn tennis jerseys. Henry Patton partnered with Tim First at #3 Doubles, while Peter Blau teamed with Owen Heaton at #2, and both pairings nailed down methodical 6-1 victories. Alex Natalizio and Miles Berry won five of their six games at love, swiftly posting a 6-0 win at #1 Doubles. Much to their credit, all eight of these Fenn boys played with admirable sportsmanship against their less-experienced opponents.
Hank Parker drew the toughest matchup of the afternoon, falling into an early 3-1 hole against a peppy slugger at #2 Singles. He approached the net with more confidence as the match progressed, and in a tightly contested tiebreaker, his volleys and overheads made the difference. He worked hard to snare the 7-6 (9-7) outcome. Additional singles results were credited to James Ewing (6-1 at #1), William Okurowski (6-0 at #3), and Charles Brookby (6-1 at #4). Alex Natalizio volunteered to play an unexpected fifth singles pairing after his doubles match concluded, and he served confidently on his way to a 6-0 tally. Fenn’s 9-0 sweep advanced its record to four wins and a draw in the first five matches of the season.
Coming Up: Fenn hosts Fay School on May 18.
Varsity Baseball
Varsity baseball hosted Hillside School on May 11 under picturesque sunny skies which spotlighted the diamond, but the hometown boys’ outlook quickly was dimmed by an 11-2 loss. Seventh grader Nico Martinez and ninth grader Patrick Romeri notched the only two Fenn hits in the ballgame. Runs were scored by Romeri and Ben Carbeau. Fenn used three pitchers who tried their best to quiet the Hillside hitters: Tyden Wilson, Eoin Morrisey and Carbeau, yet several fielding errors hurt Fenn’s ability to keep the hard-hitting Hillside players at bay.
On May 6 in Newton, Fenn suffered a 7-4 loss to Fessenden School. Fenn received very good pitching from Lucas Lisman and Patrick Romeri, who mixed their fastballs with off-speed pitches. Again, fielding errors led to opponent’s runs. Offensively, Tyden Wilson and Patrick Romeri each connected on lined shots for Fenn doubles. Fenn loaded the bases with the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the 7th, but was forced into hitting a ground ball to first base for the final out.
On deck: Fenn hosts St. John’s Prep on May 13.
JV Baseball:
JV baseball traveled to Landmark School on May 9 and trounced the home team, 14-2.
The sunny skies were a beautiful backdrop to four solid innings on the mound for Charlie Cribb. Fenn bats were quiet during the first two innings, but came alive in the third and fourth innings. With two out, Sean Okpoebo stepped up and smashed a towering hit over the centerfielder, driving in three runs. Fenn demonstrated great teamwork all day in the field, stretching its unbeaten streak to three games.
Next up: Fenn plays Landmark on May 12.
Varsity Lacrosse
Varsity lacrosse has reversed fortunes. After a pair of 6-3 victories over Park School and Shore Country Day School late in April and early in May, Fenn has dropped the last two contests. Fenn surrendered an 8-2 loss at Fessenden School on May 6 and fell to St. Sebastian’s in front of the home crowd on May 11 by a 9-6 score.
Coming up: Fenn hosts Milton Academy on May 13.
Track and Field
Track and field is enjoying another successful season. The boys in blue-and-gold scored a 50-18 victory on May 4 at Belmont Day. The team then traveled to Hillside School on May 6 and beat Hillside, 40-31. Nativity School had two points in that meet.
Next up: Fenn hosts Boston College and Meadowbrook on the Monument Street course on May 13.