Yesterday afternoon, La Salle and St. Joseph’s Prep took the courts at Chestnut Hill College for the 2016 Philadelphia Catholic League tennis championship. After brief team introductions and a final team meeting, No. 1, 2 and 3 singles matches and No. 1 and 2 doubles teams began their matches.
Team Introductions
La Salle won four of the five matches played. St. Joe’s Prep second singles player, senior John Slota, was the only Hawk to win his match with set scores of 6-4, 6-1.
Although the 4-1 Explorer victory may sound like it was a piece of cake, two matches came down to the wire. Hawk’s No. 2 doubles team of Russell Seneca and Steve Yezzi lost the first set 6-4, but managed to win the second set in a 7-point tie breaker forcing a third set to be played.
However, the closest match of the day was played between third singles players Michael DeAngelis (LCHS) and Michael Haley (SJP). DeAngelis won the first set 7-5, but Haley fought back in the second to tie the match 6-6 inducing a 7-point tie breaker. In the end, DeAngelis won the tie breaker 7-5 and joyously jumped off the court as a PCL champion.
Going forward, each team will be taking separate paths to rebuild in the offseason. La Salle will be losing six of it’s seven starting players. The Prep on the other hand, will be retaining four starters.
“Our JV team is loaded with talent and they will be the key in our success next season,” said Hawks head coach Mark Kravetz.
If there’s one thing both coaches can agree on, it’s how hard their squads played during their final game and throughout the entire season.
“I congratulate all of my players for a great season and that they left everything out on the court,” said Kravetz. “A special shout-out to the No. 3 singles player, Mike Haley, for a terrific effort. Also, without our leader and captain John Slota we wouldn't of been in this position.”
La Salle senior Michael DeAngelis talks about his match and expresses his emotions on winning the PCL title
La Salle's head coach Gerard Brett addresses his teams’ success and looks ahead to next season
La Salle’s No. 2 doubles player Jared Bunch leaves some brief advice for his succeeding teammates
“I want to thank the seniors especially for how hard they worked all four years and how they kept growing and growing and growing,” said La Salle’s assistant coach Joseph Radvansky.
2016 PCL Tennis Highlight Video
“We try to impress upon them to work hard and be a team, which I think we accomplished. And we are moving to the next step, which is the District 12 Championship. We are very proud and very happy for them,” said Radvansky.
Looking Ahead: On Thursday May 12, La Salle will take the courts again to compete in the PIAA District 12 Philadelphia City Championship. The match will be played at Abraham Lincoln High School and will begin at 2PM. Until then, the Explorers can bask in the glory of being ten-time PCL tennis champions.
