- April 24, 2024
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The Matanzas Pirates boys tennis team has won 10 matches in a row, including the March 23 victory over crosstown rival Flagler Palm Coast High School.
In sports, teams typically try to hit their “peak” in the playoffs, to play their best when it matters most.
In Flagler County, it seems as if the Matanzas Pirates boys tennis team is doing just that.
The Pirates knocked off crosstown opponent Flagler Palm Coast High School, 7-0, March 23. The win marked the Pirates’ 10th-straight victory, and improved their record to 13-2. The team’s last loss came Feb. 24, against Ponte Vedra.
Rich Cottingham’s team has been able to eke out victories without its best player, No. 1 Sam Mkrtychev.
“Getting Sam back was key,” Cottingham said. “Not only is he a strong No. 1, he also bumps everyone down a spot, increasing their chances of winning.”
Against FPC (1-10), Mkrtychev and Lao knocked off their FPC doubles opponent, 8-2, to finish undefeated for a second-straight season. The Pirates duo lost in the state semifinals last season, and Cottingham thinks his top two players can make another deep run for a state championship.
“(Mkrtychev and Lao) should be the first seed again this year for our district tournament, but they will have a tough road to states,” said Cottingham, adding that the two will have to beat teams from Ponte Vedra, Creekside, Nease and/or Bartram Trail.
“Needless to say, it won’t be easy, but the competition tends to bring out the best in those two guys,” he said.
Cottingham said his team has been able to overcome adversity, as well as injuries and sickness.
The Pirates beat defending district champs Creekside, 6-1, March 9. After the victory, Cottingham found out his team would have to play Creekside the following week for third place in the St. Johns River Conference Championship.
“I knew that there was a chance that we caught them off guard the first time,” said Cottingham, “and I really challenged the guys to prove that the 6-1 victory was no fluke and that we need to beat them 7-0 the second time around.”
And just as their coach asked, the Pirates completed the mission, winning 7-0.
Cottingham said No. 4 player Adam Hoke stood out in particular in the second Creekside victory, when he won 8-0.
“Adam has improved a lot throughout the course of the season, and I expect him to go deep in the fourth singles tournament in two weeks at districts,” Cottingham said.
RESULTS
Singles
No. 1: Sam Mkrtychev (M) def. Ryan McDermott, 8-3
2. Henry Lao (M) def. Codie Mundy, 8-0
3. Nick Petrillo (M) def. Tony Kim, 8-0
4. Adam Hoke (M) def. Adam Lehman, 8-0
5. Kevin Brady (M) def. Brad Decker, 8-2
Doubles
No. 1: Mkrtychev/Lao (M) def. McDermott/Mundy, 8-2
2. Petrillo/Hoke (M) def. Lehman/Decker, 8-1
