UTICA – With representatives in all five divisions, the Baldiwnsville boys tennis team made a strong showing during Thursday’s Section III Class A tournament at Utica Parkway Courts, finishing in the top three of each event.
In the singles division, the Bees’ Antonio Marsallo made it all the way to the first singles finals thanks to a pair of early victories.
Marsallo blanked Utica Proctor’s Richard Nguyen 6-0, 6-0 and then, in the semifinals, got past Fayetteville-Manlius’ David Fernando 6-2, 6-3, only to fall to the top seed, Christian Brothers Academy’s Ben Vlassis, in the championship round by those same scores.
Given the top seed in first doubles, Max Funicello and Nick Licciardello blanked Kyle Giardine and Henry Kuberis (Syracuse East) 6-0, 6-0 before a semifinal where, in three sets, they battled past F-M’s Jaden Duggal and Davin Woolridge 6-2, 3-6, 7-5.
That battle took a toll, perhaps leading to the final where Funicello and Licciardello lost two close sets to West Genesee’s Matt Mannara and Noah Ruston 7-6, 7-5.
Connor Tutor was the top seed in third singles, and handled Auburn’s Brody Wagner 6-1, 6-0 before a 7-5, 7-6 defeat to WG’s Ben Paoli in the semifinals. Tutor did recover to beat Proctor’s Matt Marvel 6-2, 6-1 for third place.
Up in second singles, Eric Smith followed Tutor’s path, roaring past Zach DeMott (Oswego) 6-0, 6-3 before a 6-0, 6-1 semifinal defeat to F-M’s Cameron Lukasik, the top seed and eventual champion, only to beat Central Square’s Kevin Kershner 6-1, 6-3 in the consolation bracket final for his own third-place finish.
Playing second doubles, Mason Doan and Leonardo Vona topped Ryan Stechuchak and Brody Wagner (Auburn) 6-4, 7-5 and, after a semiifnal loss to F-M’s Ben Farber-McEntee and Andy Sun 6-1, 6-0, Doan and Vona beat WG’s Dan Good and Jonathan Welles 6-2, 6-1 to give B’ville yet another third-place finish.
