A year ago, Trevor Faulk teamed with now-graduated Bo Curry in doubles to win the Fairchester Athletic Association post-season tournament. 

By Mitch Silver

 

A year ago, Trevor Faulk teamed with now-graduated Bo Curry in doubles to win the Fairchester Athletic Association post-season tournament. This year, his play at number one singles is carrying his team toward the FAA regular season title.

 

The Wildcats played host to Greens Farms three days ago, and gracious hosts they weren’t: the locals won all four singles matches as well as the three doubles contests. In fact, Faulk had the only tough match, going to a first-set tiebreaker against powerful Cole Rummelsburg before prevailing 7-6, 6-2.

 

“He was tough to play because of the speed in which he hit his forehand and serve,” a happy Faulk said afterwards. “My challenge was to keep the ball in play and hope for him to make a mistake.”

 

In the second set, Rummelsburg’s service lightning bolts began missing, and the Wildcat star claimed the victory. At second singles, Justin Mandell double-bageled his Greens Farms foe. Gabe Smilovic yielded a single game at number three, and Jack Alpert beat Matt Smith, 6-0, 6-3, at fourth singles.

 

All three Wildcat doubles teams won their opening sets 6-2. The team of Daniel Tanenbaum/Ryan Zeplin and the pairing of Charlie Capstick-Dale/Jack Curry put up 6-2 second-set wins for victory at second and third doubles. Jack Miller/Aidan Rosen stayed on court ten minutes longer, winning 6-2, 6-4.

 

The Wildcats have a single blemish on their league record, losing to Hopkins two weeks ago. Hopkins in turn dropped their match with unbeaten Brunswick, so a win over Brunswick — no small feat — will probably give the Grandview Avenue gang a piece of the FAA title.

 

It doesn’t hurt that Faulk, Mandell, Smilovic, and Alpert are a combined 25-6 in singles play in 2016. Or that the Wildcats are 8-1 at first doubles.