Cougars girls tennis falls in first state semifinal appearance since 2016, swept by eventual state champion
By Al Muskewitz
Riverview Sports News
WEST WINDSOR TWP. — It probably didn’t feel like it in the immediate aftermath of the match, but tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next month the Schalick girls tennis team will look back on the total experience and feel the warm sense of accomplishment.
The Cougars weren’t in much of a celebratory mood Thursday morning after falling to second-seeded defending and eventual state champion New Providence 5-0 in the state Group I semifinals at the Mercer County Tennis Center.
But that result in their biggest match of the year didn’t tarnish the luster of an historic season that’s not yet finished.
The Cougars were making their first appearance in the state Final Four since 2016, but they weren’t overwhelmed by the moment. The early morning bus ride from Pittsgrove was relaxed and uneventful. All five matches were decided in straight sets, but none were blowouts and the Cougars won multiple games in all of them.
They had an early lead at first singles and had the lead in the second set of first doubles.
“I think I’m still digesting it a little bit, but I will tell you, they’re a fantastic team,” Schalick coach John Romano said. “I thought we were going to have to win ugly; we just didn’t get the job done. But you saw where we were in those doubles matches; we had our chances.
“We’ve had great leadership all year long, we just didn’t get the job done today (possibly because of) a little bit of execution on our side, a little bit of probably the stage is too bright. It’s tough to come up here and win. The last (Group I) state champion from the South was, what, 2011, 2012, Pennsville.”
The Pioneers swept the three singles points to clinch a spot in the state finals opposite Glen Ridge, snapping the Cougars’ 10-match winning streak, then completed the shutout by sweeping doubles. New Providence won the state title match 3-2.
Among the Schalick setbacks was the first loss of the season for senior Katie Little and freshman Emma Adams at No. 1 doubles. They were 19-0 as a pair and Little was 20-0 – all without losing a set. They were up 4-1 in the second set and were tied 5-5 looking to extend the match before the Pioneers pulled it out.
“It was quite nerve wracking,” Little said. “The first set my anxiety was through the roof and the second set me and my partner picked it up a bit and honestly we played the best that we’ve played this season.”
Outside of the result, the Cougars were happy to be playing in the Final Four, but they weren’t just satisfied with being there. Grateful is the word most of them used to describe it, but they did want more.
Throughout the year the players kept asking Romano how this year’s team compared to the groundbreaking 2016 squad. The coach finally went there, saying the 2016 group “probably had a little more grit in certain spots,” but the 2023 edition was technically a little more polished and in the final analysis gets the nod team.
“I thought it was just really amazing to get here and I thought the competition was really good; it’s something we don’t see a lot in South Jersey, but I just really loved the opportunity,” No. 1 singles Rachael Irizarry said “Obviously it didn’t end as we wanted it to, but I think the experience was great for everyone. I’m just so grateful that we got to be here and do this today.”
“I’m grateful because of what Romano was just telling us,” Little said. “Just be happy that we’re here, take in the moment, enjoy it. It’s just a really good way to end up our seniors’ year. We’ve gotten so close so many times and we finally made it, so it’s kind of a breath of fresh air, like, oh my God, we did it. Obviously I’m upset that we lost – I wanted to win – but when it comes down to it, don’t be upset, be happy you’re here, take what you have.”
But it’s still not over. There is still more to play for.
The Cougars still have a home-and-home series set up with Woodstown Monday and Wednesday for the Tri-County Diamond Division title.
”I was able to talk with (Haddonfield’s) Jeff Holman before and that was the message I sent to the girls,” Romano said. “I said the guy with almost 3,000 career wins between the girls and the boys and 22 straight sectional titles in a row, he’s congratulating me on getting here, well, I said same thing to you and he was like, ‘John, I’m just happy to be here.’
“That’s what I told them. This guy’s been here 22 times in a row, has all the accolades in the world, probably the best coach in the nation and he’s happy to be here. I told them aside from this (result), and it doesn’t feel like it now, just enjoy this.”
NJSIAA GROUP I SEMIFINALS
New Providence 5, Schalick 0
Singles
Maggie Liu (N) def. Rachael Irizarry, 6-3, 6-0
Lily Liu (N) def. Grace O’Neill, 6-3, 6-0
Gianna Culver (N) def. Ally Green, 6-3, 6-1
Doubles
Maria Armenciu-June Blougouras (N) def. Katie Little-Emma Adams, 6-1, 7-5
Reena Silvester-Emma Timpone (N) def. Rachel Grandson-Miya Watkins, 6-4, 6-2
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES
Group I: New Providence 3, Glen Ridge 2
Group II: Holmdel 4, Demarest 1
Group III: Ramapo 3, Millburn 2
Group IV: Ridge 4, WW-Plainsboro South 1
Non-Public: Pingry 5, Princeton Day 0
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