Published April 10, 2019
By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI
LYNNFIELD — Last season was a memorable one for the Lynnfield High boys’ tennis team as they reached the Division 3 North finals before being nipped, 3-2, by the eventual state champions Weston. They finished at 17-1 overall and the Pioneers captured the Cape Ann League Kinney division title going 9-0 in the league.
However, six players from that squad graduated including CAL All-Star’s Colin Lamusta at third singles and first doubles player Lorenzo Russo.
Lynnfield also lost Max Rothermund (first singles), co-captain Arlex Correa (second singles), Andrew Seelig and Andy DePalma.
The good news for fourth-year head coach Joe Dunn is that he returns five veterans.
MICHAEL GENTILE is back to lead the Pioneers as a captain in 2019 along with his brother David. (File Photo)
The Gentile twins, Mike and David, are the senior captains while Jamil Khodr is the junior captain.
Last spring, the second doubles team of David Gentile and Khodr as they went a perfect 14-0 on the year as they also made the CAL All-Star team.
Seniors, Michael Mafio and Matt Gunning, are the two other members back.
Lynnfield started practicing back on March 18 and were able to get outdoors which pleased Dunn.
“We lost a lot of good talent,” acknowledged Dunn. “But we have some good talent still here.”
One of the newcomers who had impressed Dunn is freshman Harrison Luba.
“He has great strokes and is very consistent,” said Dunn.
Two other new members on the team are junior Jason Stelman and senior Nick Dow. Both of them were on the Pioneers junior varsity team last season.
Lynnfield is slated to play a 16-match regular season and Dunn feels that Masconomet and Pentucket will be the toughest challenges in the league.
The Pioneers opened the season after press time on April 9 as they hosted North Andover in a non-league match at Lynnfield Middle School. Lynnfield hosts Swampscott on Thursday, 3:30 p.m. also at the Middle School.
