Tuesday, May 14, 2013

By Rich Barton
NJS.com Staff Writer

Thomas Wright scored a 6-1, 6-0 victory at second singles as Saddle River Day swept Oratory Prep in the state sectional quarterfinals on Monday.

SADDLE RIVER – After losing three starters from last year’s squad, Saddle River Day head tennis coach Jeff Kurzius wondered what the expectations should be for his team this spring. Although he had standout Daniel Wright returning atop the lineup, the truth was he came into the season with only one senior and several questions marks on who would fill out the lineup and where they would play. Those questions have been emphatically answered as the Rebels have enjoyed their best season in school history, but now a new challenge is on the horizon. Can the Rebels reach the school’s first-ever section final berth in any sport? If Monday was any indication, they looked primed to make a legitimate run at it.

Daniel and his brother and second-singles player Thomas Wright combined to drop just game and the entire team dropped just one set overall as third-seeded Saddle River Day advanced to the Non-Public North B semifinals with a 5-0 victory over sixth-seeded Oratory Prep on the campus of Saddle River Day School.

“This has been an amazing season for us and we’re really coming into our own,” said Kurzius. “We have great captains (Daniel Wright and Ade Afonya), great chemistry, and we come ready to work every day. Everyone pulls for each other and they push each other on a daily basis.”

Dylan Sivori gave Saddle River Day a singles sweep as he won 6-4, 6-3 at third singles.

The Wright brothers have been consistent all year long and they were flying again on Monday. Daniel showed off his overall game in cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 win over Liam Breen at first singles. Thomas held off several game and break points in the first set before hitting his stride and pulling away for a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Greg Chen as the Rebels quickly grabbed a 2-0 lead. It was just the seventh game Thomas has dropped all year, which is remarkable being the Rebels have played 15 regular-season matches.

“Getting a chance to play with Thomas and watching him grow as a player has been a great experience,” said Daniel Wright. “We lost a few key guys from last year, but some other players have stepped right in and we haven’t missed a beat. For me personally too it has been great and I enjoy being in a leadership role. The determination this team shows every match is refreshing to see. We know we’re building a foundation for success here and we’re headed in the right direction.”

The third point did not come as easily as the first two. At third singles, Dylan Sivori finally broke serve on his fourth set point to end a long 10th game in the first set en route to a 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Jordan Hendy to clinch the match and send the Rebels into the semifinals.

At first doubles, Darius and Cameron Chuback broke late in both sets for a 6-3, 6-4 win. Despite dropping the only set of the day for the Rebels, Harper Clark and Afonya rallied back to win 4-6, 6-0, 6-3 and complete the sweep.

Saddle River Day's Daniel Wright did not drop a game at first singles.

While the season has already been a rousing success, this week will determine whether it is a record-setting one. The Rebels are currently in the lead by a point over Dwight-Englewood in the Bergen County Groups 1-2 county tournament with the semifinals and finals still left to play. There is a good chance that they will face the Bulldogs in the finals of several flights there, but there is an even better chance that they face-off with them in the Non-Public North B semifinals on Thursday. Dwight-Englewood will face seventh-seeded Hudson Catholic today in the section quarterfinals.

An almost certain win there would give the Rebels a chance to avenge their only loss and send the already-rising program to even more lofty heights.

“We’ll see a lot of Dwight-Englewood over the next week, which isn’t a bad thing because they are the benchmark of where we want to be,” added Kurzius. “Year in and year out, they are competing for county and section titles. It’s an exciting time for us because we know we’re on that level now. Daniel is so consistent and Thomas has been a huge surprise, not with winning but with how dominant he’s been in doing so. Dwight-Englewood is a great program and they have always the rabbit we’re chasing around the track. Now we know we’re on the same level, it’s just a matter of how can we pull ahead of them. Regardless of the outcome this week, the building blocks are in place for this program to be successful year in and year out. When you have talent, desire, and great kids who are willing to work hard and have fun every day, the sky is the limit.”

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