The NHIAA Division II championships claimed by the Lebanon boys and Hanover girls tennis teams at Bedford High School this spring left less of an impression of a moment in time than one of the clock getting started.
The Raiders rumbled to a 6-3 win over Oyster River on May 31, using unrivaled depth through their roster for the school’s first state boys tennis title. The Marauder girls claimed their third such honor in as many years a day later, blitzing Portmouth, 6-3, riding a starting lineup that — like their neighbors to the south — lacked a senior.
This could be the start of something good.
“Being a champion is always good,” Lebanon junior captain Jacob Peress said after the Raiders’ victory. “It always feels good to be first.”
Some within the Lebanon camp felt the championship came a year later than expected. The Raiders went down to the wire in a one-point loss to Portsmouth in the 2015 final; this year brought an undefeated campaign with a team that adjusted well after losing individual state champ Max Reed to graduation.
Lebanon’s depth was key. Where some opponents had one or two very strong players and a big drop-off in talent the rest of the way, the Raiders were much closer in ability. Peress and junior Terran Campbell both held down the top singles position during the year. The third through sixth slots could be capably filled by anyone; because of that, Lebanon almost always had an edge at the bottom of the ladder.
“From No. 3 on down, on any day they can beat each other,” second-year Lebanon coach Mike Haxton said. “It’s real solid down there. The reality is, from 3 to 6, it’s my soccer team. They’re not the all-the-time tennis players, but they turned into some good tennis players.”
Hanover displayed its skills by reeling off a third straight undefeated campaign, championship day topping what is now a 50-match winning streak. The Marauders will take that momentum into Division I play next year, the latest of several Hanover athletic programs to make the jump to New Hampshire’s big-school league.
As with Lebanon, it mattered not a whit that Hanover’s starting lineup for the final didn’t carry a senior. The Marauders graduated four in 2015, yet had more than enough talent in reserve. Hanover put three juniors and three sophomores on the court against the Clippers; five of the six contributed at least a point to the championship victory.
“I think, no matter what happened today, we knew moving forward that we’re ready to make the jump to Division I,” second-year Hanover coach Liz Murray said after the title win.
Junior Izzi Davis had a more succinct summary: “We wanted to go out with a bang.”
Chances are good it won’t stop there. Barring anything unforeseen, all six players on the court for Lebanon’s championship win will be back in 2017. Ditto for Hanover, even with the anticipation of a tougher schedule.
The fun may only be starting.
Greg Fennell can be reached at gfennell@vnews.com or 603-727-3226.