Apponequet boys’ tennis has ruled South Coast, but stellar senior class focused on casting a wider net - The Boston Globe (2025)

With the window closing, Apponoquet is focused on making the most of it.

Led by star Will Horton (62-3 career record) at first singles, the Lakers (8-1) are once again dominating South Coast Conference play and are a top contender in Division 3. Their lone blemish came in a 3-2 defeat to Somerset Berkley last Tuesday, the program’s second regular-season loss in two years.

“We know this is our last shot,” said Judson Cardinali, who is 7-2 at second singles. “So we’re going to appreciate every practice, every game. Our coach wants it. We want it. And we know we probably won’t get another opportunity to do something like this again.”

Though Eleuterio’s recent squads have been the class of the South Coast, the success wasn’t immediate. Apponequet did not win a league title in his first decade at the helm, and most of his early teams finished with sub-.500 records.

One factor in the turnaround: Eleuterio credits the summer clinics he used to run at the nearby Lakeville Athletic Club. Eleuterio, a middle school math teacher, persuaded many of his then-students to try tennis for the first time during those clinics — some of whom are now his varsity stars.

“A lot of them were my students who just liked me as a teacher, so they’re like, ‘I’ll give tennis a shot,’ ” Eleuterio said. “And some of these kids, even Will Horton, probably never would have played tennis if it wasn’t for that summer program. That’s where it all started.”

Horton is now the best player Eleuterio has coached at Apponequet, and the two-time reigning South Coast MVP. This season, Horton is 8-1 at first singles with a style Eleuterio describes as a “human backboard.”

“He doesn’t come from a tennis background, so in terms of his mechanics and his skills, he’s not overpowering,” Eleuterio said. “But he will get every ball in, and he’ll frustrate the crap out of his opponent.”

Unlike many of the opponents he faces at first singles, Horton is a multi-sport athlete who also started on Apponequet’s golf and basketball teams. He believes that variety gives him an advantage.

“I have the edge of being competitive in other sports. I feel like I have an edge of knowing what it takes to win,” Horton said. “And it’s not necessarily just who hits the harder shots, it’s who stays composed and who is able to be consistent throughout the whole entire match.”

Horton and Cardinali are complemented with returning senior starters Ryan Abreau, Cory Dugdale, and Nick Connolly. Two other seniors, Eugene Jung and Jared Freitas, have stepped in to fill the place of two starters who graduated last year.

Though Eleuterio contemplated stepping away to spend more time with his family, the pull of one final run with this senior core proved too strong.

“I was going to hang it up last year, but then I had all these seniors who were like, ‘Can you just do one more year, one more year?’ ” said Eleuterio. “So I’m doing one more year for them. I’m pretty sure it’ll be my last.”

For Horton, the opportunity to close his career alongside longtime teammates has been special no matter how it ends. But advancing beyond the state quarterfinals for the first time makes for a final goal worth building toward.

“The goal is always to try to make it even farther than the last season, but knowing this is all of our last year, it definitely means a little extra,” Horton said. “We will be ready for whatever comes.”

Extra serves

▪ The Westford girls have been on a steady rise, leading to a 14-2 record and 3-2 loss to Newton South in a Division 1 quarterfinal last season.

With all but one starter returning, the Ghosts are off to a 6-0 start — including 3-2 wins over fellow Division 1 contenders Bishop Feehan and Acton-Boxboro.

The strength starts with depth at singles, led by senior Emily Wang, a four-year starter at No. 1, and sophomores Nina Chawla and Melanie Chang at second and third, respectively. Chang, unbeaten at No. 3 last year, has not yet lost.

Though the toughest stretch of Westford’s loaded Dual County League schedule is still ahead, signs of progress have encouraged longtime coach Tracy Capone.

“Nina and Melanie are only sophomores. So I think last year, even though we had a successful year, it was a year of growth for them, especially in the mental game,” Capone said. “I know the girls want to go even a little further this year, and their goal is to just improve upon what we did last year in the tournament.”

▪ The Andover girls, off to a 7-0 start, are the perennial favorite in the Merrimack Valley Conference.

Mia Thomas, a four-year starter, is playing No. 1 for the first time. The Warriors have not dropped a doubles match, with Celeste Miner/Valerie Chu ascending to the top pairing, and Farah Berty/Caitlyn Croll slotting in as the second pair.

The Warriors have dropped just four regular-season matches the past three years, to nonleague foes Newton South, Wellesley, and Boston Latin. Newton South and Newton North are both on the schedule in the next two weeks, which coach Alan Hibino hopes will prepare the team for another deep Division 1 tournament run.

“The teams have been getting better on the MVC side, but we do try to supplement our conference schedule with some of these great nonconference opponents. And that’s important for our girls to have experience with, especially the younger ones,” Hibino said. “This is another great, deep team for us. So we’re excited for that challenge.”

Matty Wasserman can be reached at matty.wasserman@globe.com. Follow him @Matty_Wasserman.