Franklin Regional boys tennis young and experienced at same time
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Friday, March 29, 2019 | 8:11 PM
Franklin Regional’s Shrey Ramesh competes against Gateway March 27, 2019 at Franklin Regional.
Franklin Regional’s Advait Kulkarni returns serve against Gateway March 27, 2019 at Franklin Regional.
Franklin Regional’s Anup Nadesan competes against Gateway March 27, 2019 at Franklin Regional.
Franklin Regional sophomore singles player Advait Kulkarni helped the Panthers to a 4-0 start.
Franklin Regional’s Shrey Ramesh serves against Gateway March 27, 2019 at Franklin Regional.
Franklin Regional’s Anup Nadesan returns serve against Gateway March 27, 2019 at Franklin Regional.
The 2019 Franklin Regional boys tennis team.
The Franklin Regional boys tennis team (4-0) is counting on a rare mixture to take it on a long playoff run.
“The team is unique in that we have only four seniors, and the rest are underclassmen,” coach Howard Fisher said. “We look forward to being a strong contender in the section and the postseason team playoffs.”
Senior captain Joseph Bonfiglio agreed the situation is different.
“It’s almost like a rebuilding year, but it’s almost like nothing changed,” Bonfiglio said. “(We are) playing well together.”
Sophomores Anup Nadesan, Shrey Ramesh and Advait Kulkarni compete in singles.
Nadesan placed second at the Section 1-AAA singles championship tournament and was runner-up with Ramesh in section doubles last season.
“My singles lineup has not changed from last season,” Fisher said. “All three sophomores are playing with more confidence.”
Bonfiglio and senior captain Vineet Madduru, the first doubles team, bring the most experience and leadership, Fisher said.
Madduru said his and Bonfiglio’s roles are important.
“We have played a lot more (high school) matches than (the underclassmen) have,” Madduru said. “We know what it takes to win.”
Filling other doubles positions are senior Jack Strobel, sophomores Sean Van Alen and Vishal Thulasirum and freshmen Prerit Yadav and Abhinav Komanduri.
Fisher said Van Alen went undefeated playing No. 1 singles for the JV team last season.
The Panthers beat Penn Trafford, 4-1, and shut out Norwin, Hempfield and Gateway in section matches.
“It’s been an exciting three weeks,” Fisher said. “As defending section champions, my team is motivated to repeat and continues to work hard at our daily practices and in match play to improve on last year’s effort.”
The Panthers went 8-0 in the section and reached the WPIAL quarterfinals last season, losing to eventual champion Fox Chapel.
Fisher said the Panthers have been section champions 12 of the past 17 seasons.
Tags: Franklin Regional
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