Update after press time: North Reading defeats Pentucket 3-2 (April 3)
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
NORTH READING — Mark Bisognano is back for his 24th-year as the head coach of the North Reading High boys’ tennis team this spring. Last season, the Hornets fell to Bedford, 5-0, in the MIAA Division 3 Round of 16 to end the year at 10-7.
In the Cape Ann League, the Hornets went 5-6 as they finished in 3rd place in the CAL Kinney Division behind Lynnfield and Newburyport.
Four seniors from that squad graduated but five veterans returned when sporing practice opened on March 17.
Three of the players back are this year’s senior captains: Parker Lee, Sameer Murthy and Raffi Toby. Lee will play first singles, Murthy doubles and Toby will play both singles and doubles.
The two other veterans back are sophomores John Pastore (doubles) and Connor Abruzzese (doubles).
Although the Hornets did get to practice outside a lot during the preseason, they did not have any scrimmages.
“We have 14 total players and they are very spread out in classes as we have some 8th-graders this year,” pointed out Bisognano.
North Reading is slated to play 18 regular-season matches with 13 league matches and five non-league ones.
The five non-league opponents are Lowell Catholic, Bishop Fenwick, Methuen and Malden, who they will play twice.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Hornets opened the 2025 campaign with a win as they beat Lowell Catholic, 5-0, at home.
Lee won at first singles, 6-0, 6-0, while 8th-grader, Kellen Tiberii, won 7-5, 6-4, at second singles. Tiberii is the son of the Hornets’ girls’ tennis coach, Matt Tiberii.
At third singles, Toby won with matching, 6-2 scores.
In doubles action, the first team of Pastore and sophomore Nolan Pierce won in three sets, 6-4, 4-6, and 6-4.
The second team of Murthy and Abruzzese won in straight sets, 6-3, 6-0.
“We looked tentative early but got more comfortable as the match went along,” said Bisognano. “Sameer and Connor were actually down, 3-0, before they won the next 12 games.”
Bisognano feels that Lynnfield, who has won the CAL Kinney Division the last six years, will still be the team to beat this spring.
On Thursday, the Hornets visit Pentucket. They then take on CAL newcomer, Mystic Valley, at home on April 7.
On April 9, North Reading hosts the defending Div. 4 state champions, Manchester-Essex. All three of those matches start at 4 p.m.