Northern tennis team sweeps Patuxent

Very sunny but windy and chilly conditions prevailed last Friday afternoon when the Northern High School tennis team swept visiting Patuxent 9-0 as the Patriots overcame the elements and their rivals, who were tardy arrivals after some unexpected transportation issues.

Northern players had the chance to warm up exponentially April 6 while waiting for the Patuxent squad to arrive in Owings. During a school year that has seen a shortage of bus drivers, the Panthers were unable to leave Lusby until 3:45 p.m. and arrived at Northern at 4:30 p.m., 30 minutes after the match was originally scheduled to start.

Northern won all eight matches that were contested in straight sets and was awarded the ninth via forfeit. Several of the opening sets in singles and doubles action were contentious, but eventually the Patriots prevailed in the second sets in comfortable fashion. Steady winds and high gusts forced players to adjust, especially on serves when the wind often altered the lob.

On adjacent courts, Northern sophomore Luke Hawit downed Patuxent sophomore Kyle Hensler 6-3, 6-2, while Patriots’ sophomore Avhlee Reist defeated Patuxent’s Arden MacLearen 6-3, 6-0. Reist ran cross country for Northern last fall and ran indoor track during the winter, but she opted to trade in her running shoes for tennis shoes this spring.

“I played tennis a lot growing up,” Reist said. “But I stopped playing in sixth grade and then focused on running track when I came to Northern. But I kept dealing with minor injuries running track, so I switched back to tennis for the spring. The winds were definitely tricky today, but I thought my serves were really good.”

In boys’ number one doubles, Northern’s Ryan Prewer and Quinn Wood defeated Patuxent’s Brian Platz and Jim Barry 6-2, 6-1, while the Patriots tandem of Charlotte Thon and Maggie Rathgeb topped Patuxent’s Alain Thomas and Abby Dahlin 6-0, 6-0. Northern’s Jackson Goehle and Dariann Adams won their mixed doubles match via forfeit.

In boys’ number two singles, Northern’s Sam Zolfaghari defeated Patuxent’s Max Kenner 6-3, 6-0, while the Patriots’ Zara Ahmad downed Patuxent’s Olivia Mejia 6-2, 6-1 in girls’ number two singles.

Northern’s John Sarn and Paul Parks won their boys number two doubles’ match against Patuxent’s Cody Much and Daniel Seger 6-1, 6-1, while the Patriots’ Nele Rosner and Beverly Perera defeated the Panthers’ McKynzie Davis and Charlotte Biggans 6-1, 6-0 in girls’ number two doubles.