The Tyrone boys varsity tennis team earned their first season victory at a home match against Juniata on Monday, April 15, which was also Senior Night for seven graduating Tyrone seniors.
The final score was 5-2, with three points coming from singles wins by seniors Noah Newlin, Rocky Romani, and Alex Shock, and two points for double wins by Ethan Dasher and Logan Harpster, and Elijah Knarr and John Isenberg.
Newlin won his match due to an injury. Juniata’s Josh Martin suffered an ankle injury during the first set and could not complete the game.
Rocky Romani took his win in a quick 2-set match against Kendall Stroup. Romani won the first set 6-0 and the second 6-3.
“Going into the match I was super nervous and excited because I’ve heard that Juniata is usually a pretty good team,” said Romani. “I’m happy I was able to come out and win my match for the team; there wasn’t a more appropriate time to get the win than senior night.”
Next up was senior Alex Shock, who had the most interesting match of the evening, beating Juniata’s Thea Beward in a match that lasted nearly two and a half hours.
After losing the first set to Thea Beward in a close tiebreaker 6-7(4-7), Shock managed to come out on top for a 6-3 win in the second set followed by a 6-4 win during the third.
Tyrone Head Coach Randy Irvin told Shock that it was one of the longest matches he had ever coached in boys or girls tennis.
“Coach told me during my break in the second set that if I won he’d pay for my meal after the next away match,” Alex said. “That’s really all of the motivation I needed.”
A majority of the Tennis team graduated last year resulting in the team this year being almost entirely made up of first-year rookies.
“Nine out of our 11 players are brand new but they are picking up the game very quickly,” Head Coach Randy Irvin said. “I have been very impressed with their improvement. Tennis is a sport that is hard to pick up quickly but they have done a fabulous job learning the game.”
Seniors honored before the game were Noah Newlin, Jay Isenberg, Elijah Walk, Elijah Knarr, Alex Shock, Rocky Romani, and Maverick Fleck.
Tyrone 5, Juniata 2
SINGLES: 1, Xane Whitesel, J, def. Maverick Fleck, 6-1, 6-0; 2, Daria Kint, J, def. Elijah Walk, 6-3, 6-1; 3, Noah Newlin, T, def. Josh Martin, 2-4, retired; 4, Rocky Romani, T, def. Kendall Stroup, 6-0, 6-3; 5, Alex Shock, T, def. Thea Beward, 6-7(4-7), 6-3, 6-4.
DOUBLES: 1, Ethan Dasher-Logan Harpster, T, def. Asher Wriglesworth-Chaz Auker, 8-6; 2, John Isenberg-Elijah Knarr, T, def. Dayton Miller-Emma Seipel, 8-4.
Records: Tyrone (1-5)
