Watch: Skowhegan boys and Brunswick girls claim A North tennis titles

LEWISTON — The Skowhegan boys and Brunswick girls tennis teams earned Class A North championships at Bates College.

Skowhegan defeated Brunswick 4-1, marking the River Hawks’ second consecutive year as A North boys champions.

“They did really well, they were focused, they made some great shots and had some excellent mental toughness,” Skowhegan boys coach Dan Riley said. “They were really poised to play the tennis they know how to play. I’m really proud of them.”

On the girls side, Brunswick won its fourth straight regional title by beating Camden Hills 4-1.

The Brunswick girls (15-0) won all three singles matches and No. 1 doubles. Coco Meserve defeated Charlotte Delehey 6-1, 6-0 in No. 1 singles, Ellie Meserve topped Hattie Moss 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 in second singles and Molly Tefft beat Eliza Nicholson 6-4, 6-1 in third singles.

“We had a little bit of a slow start, and it was exhilarating and exciting, and they just sort of dug deep and pulled it out,” Brunswick coach Mary Kunhardt said. “I’m super proud of them. They’ve been working hard all year, so I’m so proud of them.”

Brunswick also won No. 1 doubles, when Sadie Levy and Hazel Goodwin lost the first set then rallied to defeat Camden Hills duo Rana Abess and Olive VanHoewyk 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Camden Hills’ (12-3) sole win was by Corynn Prescott and Zola Roberts over Olivia Patient and Izzi Leitzell 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in the No. 2 doubles.

The Skowhegan boys’ (13-2) wins came from the three singles matches and the No. 1 doubles match.

Drake Turcotte defeated Jacob Scrapchansky 6-0, 6-2 in No. 1 singles, Dominic Clifford beat Edgar Meardon 6-2, 6-2 in No. 2 singles and Cam Herrick rolled past Asher Foushee 6-1, 6-0 in No. 3 singles.

“I feel like our team was ready, and I felt like we were prepared to meet the challenges that Brunswick brings,” Riley said. “We knew (Brunswick) beating Camden Hills, they were pretty pumped up, and it was going to be a tough match today. It felt excellent, and the second doubles came real close. Everybody played real tough and I’m really proud of them to do it for a second year in a row.”

The Rivers Hawks’ No. 1 doubles duo of Asa Stroman and Erick Cunliffe beat Blake Belanger and Merrick Meardon 6-0, 6-3.

Brunswick’s (10-5) No. 2 doubles team of Oliver Edmonds and Evan Williams beat Skowhegan’s Noah McConnell and Bronson Sprague 6-4, 7-6.

The Skowhegan boys and Brunswick girls will each face Falmouth in the Class A state championships at Bates on Wednesday.

“We’ve heard they have strong doubles, so we are going to be doing a lot of net play,” Kunhardt said of the Falmouth girls. “We’re just excited to get there — that was our goal to make it to the table for the chicken dinner, so here we are.”

The Dragons are playing in their fourth consecutive girls state final and are going for their second title in a row and third in four years. They defeated Falmouth to win the 2021 and 2023 Class A championships.

Falmouth defeated Skowhegan in last year’s boys final.