It is Wednesday, and after a Week 2 where the weather made it feel more like December instead of April, the high school tennis season had a very competitive match that further strengthens the belief that this season, there is parity among the top teams.
In the much anticipated rematch of last season’s headline-stealing battle where Holy Cross snapped Abington Heights’ triple-digit winning streak, the Comets earned some revenge. Abington Heights, the No. 1 team in The Times-Tribune High School Tennis Top 5 Poll, edged Holy Cross, 3-2, to remain undefeated.
MARCH 28, 2019
COMETS STAY UNDEFEATED
Sam Weiss won at No. 3 singles and Abington Heights swept the doubles matches to earn a 3-2 victory over Holy Cross in a Lackawanna League boys tennis match Thursday.
Logan Gregory and Joey Lennon had singles wins for Holy Cross.
Abington Heights 3, Holy Cross 2
Singles: Logan Gregory (HC) over Rory Harris, 6-1, 6-0; Joey Lennon (HC) over Varun Iyogar, 6-1, 3-6, 6-0; Sam Weiss (AH) over Ryan Huester, 6-1, 6-4.
Doubles: Chris Hobbie-Adam Vale (AH) over Dom Arbie-Thomas Parise, 6-2, 6-3; Charlie Putska-Nadov Griver (AH) over Santino Graziano-Ismael Morales, 6-2, 6-1.
Records: AH 3-0, HC 2-1.
After Monday’s results, which included Scranton defeating West Scranton, 5-0, it sets up today’s showdown between No. 1 Abington Heights and No. 3 Scranton at Scranton High School.
THE MATCHUP
|
Abington Heights |
Records |
Scranton |
Records |
|
Rory Harris |
2–1 |
Harsh Patel |
2–1 |
|
Varun Iyogar |
2–1 |
Camus Howie |
2–1 |
|
Sam Weiss |
3–0 |
Mit Patel |
3–0 |
And a big clash that will give a good indication of the top Class 2A teams when Holy Cross visits Scranton Prep today.
THE MATCHUP
|
Holy Cross |
Scranton Prep |
||
|
Logan Gregory |
2–1 |
Matt Tressler |
2–2 |
|
Joey Lennon |
4–0 |
Harrison Oven |
4–0 |
|
Ryan Huester |
3–1 |
Matt Tatulli |
4–0 |
|
Dom Arbie |
0–1 |
||
2019 SEASON
Valley View’s Carlo Possanza
TOP TEAMS
Clearly, the head-to-head match between Abington Heights and Scranton will impact the Top 5, just as the Abington Heights win over Holy Cross did.
Scranton Prep is giving a challenge for that No. 1 spot in the poll. Valley View climbed one spot to No. 4 and has a very important match today against Delaware Valley, which is the defending league champion and is knocking on the door of the Top 5 poll. Also, keep in mind, Valley View has NO home matches this season because of the condition of the courts at the high school facility.
WEEK 2 POLL
|
Rank |
Team |
Record |
|
 |
1 |
Abington Heights COMETS |
3–0 |
 |
2 |
Scranton Prep CAVALIERS |
4–0 |
 |
3 |
Scranton KNIGHTS |
3–0 |
 |
4 |
Valley View COUGARS |
4–0 |
 |
5 |
Holy Cross CRUSADERS |
3–1 |
Teams to watch: Delaware Valley (3-1), West Scranton (2-1).
SEASON RESULTS
TOP PLAYERS
Holy Cross’ Logan Gregory won one of the top head-to-head singles matches of the season when he defeated Abington Heights’ Rory Harris. Both players are ranked in The Times-Tribune Top 5 Poll and were Lackawanna League all-stars last season.
Western Wayne’s Lenny Maiocco, the reigning Times-Tribune Player of the Year, defeated Valley View’s Carlo Possanza, who is also a returning Lackawanna League all-star and is ranked in the Top 5, 6-2, 6-1.
WEEK 2 RANKING
|
Rank |
Player |
Record |
|
 |
1 |
Lenny MAIOCCO WESTERN WAYNE |
4–0 |
 |
2 |
Tomas REESE DELAWARE VALLEY |
4–0 |
 |
3 |
Logan GREGORY HOLY CROSS |
2–1 |
 |
4 |
Rory Harris ABINGTON HEIGHTS |
2–1 |
 |
5 |
Carlo POSSANZA VALLEY VIEW |
3–1 |
Players to watch: Harsh Patel (Scranton); Harrison Oven (Scranton Prep); Camus Howie (Scranton); Joey Lennon (Holy Cross); Varun Iyogar (Abington Heights).
SINGLES RECORDS
Delaware Valley’s Tomas Reese
Photo by Mark Moran
SCHEDULE
TODAY
Scranton Prep’s Matt Tressler.
JESSE CAREY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER
4-Valley View at Delaware Valley
1-Abington Heights at 3-Scranton
Western Wayne at Riverside
Montrose at North Pocono
Dunmore at Wallenpaupack
West Scranton at Honesdale
5-Holy Cross at 2-Scranton Prep
THURSDAY
Mid Valley at 1-Abington Heights
Western Wayne at Delaware Valley
3-Scranton at North Pocono
Riverside at Wallenpaupack
Montrose at West Scranton
2-Scranton Prep at Dunmore
Honesdale at 5-Holy Cross
MONDAY
Dunmore at 5-Holy Cross
Montrose at 2-Scranton Prep
Riverside at West Scranton
Wallenpaupack at 3-Scranton
North Pocono at Delaware Valley
Western Wayne at Mid Valley
4-Valley View at 1-Abington Heights
STANDINGS
AS OF APRIL 3
|
W |
L |
|
|
Scranton Prep |
4 |
0 |
|
Valley View |
4 |
0 |
|
Abington Heights |
3 |
0 |
|
Scranton |
3 |
0 |
|
Delaware Valley |
3 |
1 |
|
Holy Cross |
3 |
1 |
|
West Scranton |
2 |
1 |
|
Dunmore |
2 |
2 |
|
Mid Valley |
2 |
2 |
|
Honesdale |
1 |
3 |
|
North Pocono |
1 |
3 |
|
Wallenpaupack |
0 |
3 |
|
Montrose |
0 |
4 |
|
Riverside |
0 |
4 |
|
Western Wayne |
0 |
4 |
Joby Fawcett has covered high school sports — including football, girls and boys volleyball, girls and boys tennis, girls and boys swimming, boys basketball, girls and boys track and field, and girls and boys lacrosse — for 22 years. The High School Sports Blog offers deeper insights plus statistical and historical information for fans and features photos, videos and graphics along with Top 5 polls for tennis and volleyball. Contact: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5367; @sportsTT
