The Palmerton boys tennis team swept enough of the wind away from their rackets to defeat Jim Thorpe 5-0 in a Colonial League match on a blustery Tuesday afternoon.

In the first singles match, the Bombers’ Levi Johnson picked up a 6-0, 6-1 win over Alex Plesniarski. The second singles contest was won by Palmerton junior Colton Ruzicka over Ian Walck, 1-6, 6-1, 6-1.

The third singles match was very competitive between Thorpe’s Evan Rosenbrook and Palmerton’s Anderson Garcia-Escobar, one that went to a tie-breaker after the pair was deadlocked at 6-6 after the second set. The match featured long volleys between both players, and each coach took the opportunity before the tiebreaker to talk strategy.

“Try to get him to move more side to side and pull down on your racket to put more force upon your lob shots,” JT coach Emilio Mercado advised Rosenbrook,

“Get better control of your volleys, and don’t get caught playing at the baseline when the shot calls for you to move toward the net,” Palmerton coach Jen Danzeisen offered to Garcia-Escobar.

Garcia-Escobar, who won the first set 7-5, prevailed 7-3 in the tiebreaker to win despite a great effort from Rosenbrook until the very last point was scored.

In the only doubles match of the afternoon, Palmerton’s Hadlee Lake and Josh Merkel defeated Trent Sutphin and Drayden Mathurin, 6-3, 6-3.

Mercado, in his second year as coach, has been trying to build up the roster for the program.

“Last year, we had only three players. Now we have six which means we can’t fill all the doubles matches,” he said. “We are committed to getting better and become more competitive each time we play. We do need more confidence to execute our shots.”

Mercado holds a summer camp in July that has been well attended, and also visits the district’s two middle schools to recruit new players. He expects his roster numbers will improve next season, as several eighth-graders have expressed interest in playing Olympian tennis.

Danzeisen is also building a more established program that now rosters 10 players.

“We work on our weaknesses with individualized instruction,” she said. “We have to get better at knowing where to place the ball depending upon the previous shot. Our ranks of first, second, and third singles are determined internally when they play each other.”

For doubles, Danzeisen says there is a significant factor in attaining success.

“It’s about communication, and letting each other know where to be once the ball is being returned,” she said.

Mercado commented on what he sees as the strengths in his singles’ lineups.

“Plesniarski has a pretty good forehand,” said the coach. “Walck goes for every ball and never gives up. Rosenbrook is our most consistent player getting most of his shots in play.”

Danzeisen also commented on what she sees as the strengths in her players.

“Johnson is a tennis player. He serves well and can reach pretty much every ball. Ruzicka is a strong hitter, and sometimes he hits the ball a little too strong,” she said. “Garcia–Escobar is a first time singles player, but he’s making the adjustment, and we’re working on him to serve more aces.”

Both coaches said that the primary goal for their players is to help them have fun and become life-long tennis players.

A UNIQUE TRADITION … In other high school sports, handshakes are performed once the event has been completed. In tennis, both teams line up facing each other before the match begins. Each player announces their name and shakes the hand of their opponent that they’ll play.

THE HONOR SYSTEM … There are no certified officials for tennis matches. The players not only keep their scores, they each call shots that are out of play unless there is a dispute that cannot be resolved. In that case, they have a “do over” for the next point scored.

Palmerton 5, Jim Thorpe 0

SINGLES

Levi Johnson (P) def. Alex Plesniarski 6-0, 6-1; Colton Ruzicka (P) def. Ian Walck 1-6,6-1,6-1; Anderson Garcia-Escobar (P) def. Evan Rosenbrook 7-5, 6-6 (7-3).

DOUBLES

Hadlee Lake/Josh Merkel (P) def. Trent Sutphin/Drayden Mathurin 6-3, 6-3; Palmerton won by forfeit

Records: Palmerton (2-3); Jim Thorpe (0-6)