Regional tourney next up for SD

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(May 12, 2023) Eight Stephen Decatur tennis players will compete in the MPSSAA regional tournament, May 16-17 in Cambridge.

The Seahawks will be in the 2A East Region II brackets.

Sophomore Emily Ferguson and junior Briggs Pugner will play singles.

Ferguson received the No. 1 seed in her bracket. Pugner is seeded second.

Junior captains Matt Beck and David Janney are seeded first in double competition. The pair won their division last year as sophomores.

“David and Matt have a target on their back being defending doubles champions, so they have to have their ‘A’ game every time they take the court,” said Decatur Coach Steve Berquist.

Sophomore Anika Karli and junior Kalli Nordstrom received the No. 2 seed in their doubles bracket.

Senior Sarah Tarr and junior Jacob Ritz are in the No. 4 spot in the mixed doubles Region II bracket.

“Matt and David finished the season strong at first doubles winning all their matches and Jacob Ritz and Briggs Pugner are playing their best tennis of the year,” Berquist said. “I am very excited for them and think they will all make a big splash at regionals.”

Berquist said they are setting up some matches with elite former Decatur tennis players to prepare for the tournament.

“We are also reaching out to some of the elite local players from other schools to hit with,” he added. “They have to step up their games to playoff gear. There’s no second chance so you have to be ready to go right out of the gate.”

Coach Jamie Greenwood is pleased with the way the Lady Seahawks are playing going into the tournament.

“I think we look good. We finished with a win over Worcester Prep, which I was really happy about,” he said. “I think it’s a good springboard into the regional tournament for the four girls that are playing.

“It’s definitely come a long way.

We’ve got a week and a half to finetune things and push them to work on little things,” Greenwood continued.

He said the Seahawks need to battle the entire match and not give up.

“They need to stick with it thought the whole match. They play two out of three sets at regionals so it’s not one and done,” he said.

During the season, Decatur plays one set to eight points. For the tournament, its best two of three sets.

“It’s going to be a longer match and that’s what we’re working on at practice and playing those six-game sets and getting used to that,” Greenwood said.