Updates after press time:
Lynnfield defeats Swampscott 4-1 (April 4)
Lynnfield defeats Hamilton-Wenham 3-2 (April 1)
SHLOK KUDRIMOTI, a senior captain this season, defeated his Bishop Fenwick opponent 6-0, 6-0 in Lynnfield’s first match of the season on Monday. (Courtesy Photo)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season was another outstanding one for the Lynnfield High boys’ tennis team. The Pioneers reached the Division 4 state title match before they were edged by Manchester-Essex, 3-2, as they would end up at 19-2 overall.
In the Cape Ann League, they were 11-0 as they won the CAL Kinney Division title for the sixth-straight season including beating Manchester-Essex.
Six seniors from that squad graduated but 9th-year head coach Joe Dunn returned four starters when practice opened on March 17.
Three of them are this year’s senior captains: Shea McCarthy, Shlok Kudrimoti and Raffi Arkun. For McCarthy, a three-year CAL All-Star, it is his second season as a captain.
The fourth starter returning is senior Matt Reinold.
“We got to practice outside everyday except one,” pointed out Dunn, about the preseason. “We got lucky with the weather. It was a little chilly, but at least it was dry enough.”
The Pioneers did not have any scrimmages and will play a 17-match season. Along with their 11 CAL opponents, they will play six non-league matches.
Lynnfield will face Mystic Valley twice and play single matches against Bishop Fenwick, Swampscott, Beverly and Marblehead for their non-league contests.
In their earliest season opener since Dunn has been head coach, the Pioneers shut out guest Bishop Fenwick on Monday, 5-0, on a mild, cloudy day.
McCarthy won at first singles, 6-1, 6-0. Kudrimoti shut out his opponent at second singles, 6-0, 6-0, while Ritvik Mahajan won, 6-0, 6-3, at third singles.
“That was Ritvik’s first varsity match and he did a good job,” said Dunn, about the sophomore.
The first doubles team of Reinold and Arkun won, 6-0, 6-0, while the second team of sophomores, Rishadk Anand and Mahir Akheer also recorded a 6-0, 6-0 shutout.
“It was also the debut for Rishadk and Mahir,” pointed out Dunn.
Lynnfield is the favorite to win the Kinney Division again this year and Dunn feels that Newburyport and Hamilton-Wenham will be the biggest challenges to his team.
Lynnfield, who has made the Div. 4 state finals the last three years, will host Swampscott on April 4 at 4:30 p.m.
They then return to CAL action on April 7 as they visit Newburyport. That match will start at 3:30 p.m.