Avon boys attempt to toughen up in practice

AVON, May 2 – Practice isn’t a casual event with the Avon High boys tennis team. For some players, it’s the only time they will be challenged during the regular season.

“Practice can be as important as the game for us,” Avon coach Ben Lukowicz said. “We have to take advantage of our practice time. We do make it a priority.”

Avon, the two-time defending Class M state champions, continue to roll through the NCCC. The Falcons (9-0, 8-0 NCCC) have captured 47 straight dual matches dating back to the 2010 campaign. 

After eight matches, they’ve dropped just two individual matches in league play this season in a doubleheader match with Ellington/Somers on Monday. No. 3 singles Gabe Levin and Andrew Wang lost 9-8 in a tiebreaker, 7-4 in the first match of the afternoon.

In the second contest against Ellington/Somers, Alex Saslow and Mike Arciero dropped a 8-4 decision.

Avon will likely run through the North Central Connecticut Conference with ease this spring. The Falcons have added challenging non-league bouts with Waterford, Gulford, Farmington, East Catholic and Farmington in the final 12 days of the regular season.

Avon wants to be prepared to compete in the Class M tournament.

The Falcons are led by senior Sam Aronson, who finished second in Class M singles last June and Sam Flaxman, who was eliminated in the quarterfinals. The Setler brothers (Eric and Evan) advanced to the Class M semifinals in doubles last year.

The Falcons had little trouble with Ellington/Somers, taking a pair of 6-1 decisions. They did drop a doubles match in each game.

Avon easily rolled over Granby, 7-0, dropping just two games in singles and four games in doubles.

Upcoming games
MAY: 3: SUFFIELD; 6: at Canton; 8: GRANBY; 13: BOLTON; 15: at Waterford; 17: at Guilford; 30: FARMINGTON; 21: at East Catholic; 23: SIMSBURY 

Avon 7, Granby 0
At Granby
Singles: Sam Aronson (A) def. Peter Marzo, 6-0, 6-0; John Burdick (A) def. Jack DiPietro, 6-0, 6-0; Sam Flaxman (A) def. Mike Main, 6-1, 6-0; Riley Van Dusen (A) dec. Dustin Kaiser, 6-1, 6-0
Doubles: Evan Seltzer/Eric Seltzer (A) dec. Derin Smith/Joey Noyes, 6-1, 6-2; Alex Saslow/Mike Arciero (A) dec. Tim Ray/Cam Miller, 6-0, 6-0; Gabe Levin/Andre Wang (A) dec. Garrett Salazar/Gordan Gellant, 6-0, 6-1
Records: Avon 8-0, 7-0 NCCC; Granby 6-2, 6-2 

Avon 6, Ellington/Somers 1
At Avon
Singles: Sam Aronson (A) dec. James Rockett, 8-0; John Burdick (A) dec. Corey Muznicki, 8-0; Sam Flaxman (A) dec. Zach Cargill, 8-3; Riley Van Dusen (A) dec. Alex Panek 8-0
Doubles: Evan Seltzer/Eric Seltzer (A) dec. Sachin Pavchal-Andrew Pasher, 8-4; Alex Saslow/Mike Arciero (A) dec. Kevin Sisco/Michah Fox, 8-4; Justin Nicholetti/James Costanzo (E) dec. Gabe Levin/Andrew Wang, 9-8 (7-4)
Records: Avon 6-0, 5-0 NCCC; Ellington 5-2 

Avon 6, Ellington/Somers 1
At Avon
Singles: Aronson (A) dec. Muznicki, 8-0; Burdick (A) dec. James Rockett, 8-0; Flaxman (A) dec. Cargill, 8-0; Van Dusen (A) dec. John Rockett, 8-0
Doubles: Seltzer/Seltzer (A) dec. Pavchal/Pasher, 8-4; Sisco/Fox (E) dec. Saslow/Arciero, 8-4; Levin/Wang (A) dec. Tyler Zalatny/James McNeat, 8-2
Records: Avon 7-0, 6-0 NCCC; Ellington 5-3