Blue Hill/Deer Isle—The struggle to get tennis matches in during a rainy first two weeks of the season resulted in a packed schedule that saw both George Stevens Academy and Deer Isle-Stonington High School tennis teams play almost half their seasons in a week and a half.
The Mariners played four matches in five days last week, with a similar schedule next week. Because of the compact schedule, coach Mark Churchill said the lack of practice (outside of in-game) and “on the fly coaching” has led to slower development than he would have liked so far this season.
“Last week’s matches were used as much as possible to try to get into form and reflect upon positive advances and remediation of deficits,” he said.
The Mariner girls were not able to get a win during the four-match stretch, and look to get the first win of the season during the next batch of contests. The boys were able to come away with a 3-2 victory over Schenck/Stearns on May 4.
The Eagles girls and boys tennis teams at George Stevens Academy have been in the same boat, and boys coach Mark Ensworth said that it has had a direct impact on some of his players.
“This is the first time I have seen a schedule as packed as it was last week,” said Ensworth, whose team played six matches in five days. “The worries were shoulder fatigue from serving that much and staying healthy for the week. Any tweaks or sprains would knock you out for what amounts to a third of the season.”
The boys managed to come away with only one loss to Mattanawcook; however, Ensworth said the team was lucky for a rain-out last Friday.
“We were going to have to limp into it with a couple regulars banged up, but that is what depth is for,” he said.
The Eagle girls played eight games in five days, with two double headers against Deer Isle-Stonington and PVHS. The girls took the win in all eight games, and have not lost since the first match of the season against Mattanawcook.