Netmen sweep Salem, English

The Winthrop High boys tennis team handily defeated both of its opponents this week with 5-0 whitewashings of Salem and Lynn English.

“It was nice to get back on the winning track after some tough losses,” said WHS head coach Barbara Hoffmann. “In the Salem match, we won 5-0, even without our usual first singles player, Kenny Hodgkins.”

Alex Hamilton stepped up nicely into first singles and after a tough 7-5 set, won the second set by a decisive 6-0 margin. “After winning that very close first set, Alex just came back and really dominated in the second set,” said Hoffmann.

Jake Rand moved up to second slot from his usual third and won 6-3, 6-2. At third singles, Connor Brugman won 6-1, 6-1. “This was Connor’s first turn at singles this year and he did a great job,” noted Hoffmann.

In the doubles matches, Ryan McKinnon and Kevin Cash won 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 at first doubles and Steve Ruggiero and Tyler Norris won 6-3, 6-7, 7-6 (7-4).

In the shutout of Lynn English, Hodgkins was back at his familiar first spot and won 6-1, 6-1. Jake Rand played again at second singles and won in straight sets 6-0, 6-1, while Brugman improved his singles record to 2-0 with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of his English counterpart.

First doubles Ryan McKinnon and Brendan Fitzpatrick won 6-0, 6-1. “Brendan just started playing this year and has done so well during practice the last couple of days, including beating a varsity player at a challenge match, that I moved him to varsity with clearly positive results,” said Hoffmann.

Norris and Cash disposed of their English counterparts at second doubles 6-0, 6-0.

Hoffmann and her charges were set to play at Revere yesterday (Wednesday) and host Peabody today. They will travel to Gloucester Monday and host Swampscott Wednesday.