A trio of recently-graduated Londonderry High boy tennis stalwarts made significant waves in state singles’ and doubles’ tournament action recently. But in the end, a championship proved a bit more than elusive for the now-former Lancer standouts.
After being named the number one seed in the state singles tourney, Ryan Broderick powered his way all the way to the championship round of that event. But in the end he fell short of his goal of a title, dropping a 6-1, 6-2 match decision to Bedford High standout Dan Soucy.
In the early rounds of the tournament at the Derryfield School in Manchester on Saturday, June 7, Broderick drove past Zane Keehbler of Saint Thomas Aquinas High in Dover by an 8-0 score, Sam Kluger of Nashua North by an 8-0 tally, and then Aaron Drummond of Moultonborough in a lopsided 6-1, 6-1 decision.
Then on Tuesday, June 10, at Derryfield, the former Lancer drove to the title round by defeating Ross Kenney of Winnacunnet High in Hampton (6-4, 7-5). But besting Soucy in the finals just wasn’t to be for the talented local.
“Ryan went on to the top four and had a huge personal victory despite terrible cramping at the end of the first set to defeat Ross Kenney in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5. It was an epic 3 1/2-hour match,” said LHS boys’ tennis coach Janice Tracey.
But after using up so much energy in round four, Broderick faced the Herculean task of besting Bedford stalwart Soucy.
“Unfortunately, Ryan had nothing left in the tank to take on Dan Soucy of Bedford at 8:15 in the evening,” said Tracey. “They had almost a two-hour match, with Dan the victor.”
The strong Londonderry doubles duo of McKinney and Court headed into its tourney – which began on Sunday, June 8, with matches at Derryfield and Southern New Hampshire University next door – seeded eighth. And that day the Lancers offed a duo from Winnacunnet (8-3), one from Alvirne of Hudson (8-2), and Marty Pelletier and Nick Flanders from Goffstown High (6-3, 6-3) to advance to fourth -round play at Derryfield last Friday, June 13.
But the two skilled locals fell out of title contention that day when they were defeated by the extremely tough Winnacunnet High tandem of Kenney and Dylan Taylor.
“They won the first set 6-4 and had a tough time closing the second set and lost 4-6,” said Tracey. “They had a 5-2 lead in the third and couldn’t close it out, and then they lost in a third set tie-break. But they played phenomenal doubles. They were aggressive and just had some really tough breaks on some really key points. But they are champions in every way. I am so proud of how far they came.”