Published June 12, 2019

By STEPHEN MARTELLUCCI

LYNNFIELD — Last season, the Lynnfield High boys’ tennis team reached the Div. 3 North Final before getting edged by Weston 3-2,to end the year at 17-1. The two teams met again on Monday in the Division 3 North semifinals at Lynnfield Middle School.

Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the result was the same as the Wildcats won 3-2.

With that loss, the fourth-seeded Pioneers ended the year at 15-4. Meanwhile, the eight-seeded Wildcats, improved to 13-5 and will take on Amesbury on Wednesday in the North Final.

“It was an intense match,” stated Lynnfield head coach Joe Dunn. “Their depth at doubles was the difference.”

HARRISON LUBA concluded his perfect season with a 6-4, 6-2 win at second singles against Weston on Monday. Luba went 18-0 this year. (Dan Tomasello Photo)

Jamil Khodr lost 6-4, 6-0 at first singles while Harrison Luba won 6-4, 6-2 at second singles. Mike Gentile won 6-2, 6-1 at third singles.

Luba went 18-0 this season while Gentile was 19-0.

In doubles action, the first duo of David Gentile and Mike Maffeo lost 6-0, 6-1. The second team of Matt Gunning and Jason Stelman lost in straight sets as well, 6-0, 6-0.

Weston played in the Dual County League which features some of the top teams in eastern Mass. Because of this, they are much better than their overall record shows when they compete in the states.

Blank Winthrop

In the quarterfinal round on June 6, the Pioneers blanked Winthrop, 5-0, at home. The fifth-seeded Vikings, a team out of the Northeastern Conference, ended the year at 14-4.

“I didn’t know too much about them coming in but they have some competitive players,” said Dunn.

Khodr won 7-6 (7-3 tiebreaker), 6-0 at first singles. Luba won with matching 6-2 scores while Mike Gentile shutout his opponent 6-0, 6-0 at number three.

David Gentile and Maffeo won 6-4, 6-2 while Gunning and Stelman won 6-2, 6-2 at second doubles.

Sweeps Wilmington

On June 4, the Pioneers shutout visiting Wilmington 5-0 in the opening round.

“We were a much stronger team than they were,” said Dunn.

The 13th-seeded Wildcats, a Middlesex League team, ended up at 6-12.

Khodr won 6-1, 6-2 while Luba won 6-2, 6-0. Mike Gentile shutout his opponent 6-0, 6-0, at third singles.

David Gentile and Maffeo won 6-1, 6-1 while Gunning and Stelman won 6-2, 6-1.