Classical boys’ tennis heading to postseason

LYNN – Lynn Classical boys? tennis coach Chris Hayward knew it would be a tight match against Salem Tuesday. The Rams barely scratched out a win the last time the two met. This time, though, they took a comfortable 4-1 win and a spot in the playoffs with it.
With the victory, Classical improves to 6-8 overall, 6-2 record in the Northeastern Conference/Large. Salem dropped to 3-6.
Classical?s Calvin Chung battled against Salem?s first singles? player, Guthrie Scrimgeour, who took the match, 6-3, 6-2. For Salem coach John Robinson, Scrimgeour, a junior and captain, may be one of the best players in the conference.
?We?re very lucky to have a player like him,” said Robinson. “He works tremendously hard, has a great work ethic and he gets it done both on the court and in the classroom.”
Chung, only a sophomore, has played well for Classical, and had a solid showing against a tough opponent. Chung has been in the first singles? position for two years now.
?He executes well and doesn?t make mistakes,” Hayward said of Chung. “He?s a brick wall. Everything hit his way, he hits back.”
Junior Mehdi Bakhouch got a win for the Rams in the second singles, beating Salem?s Ryan Farley, 6-3, 6-4.
?(Bakhouch) is our most improved player,” Hayward said. “He?s worked extremely hard and has moved up from second doubles last year. He?s having a strong season.”
When the Rams played Salem earlier in the year, freshman Moses Ba clinched the match for Classical with a victory in third singles. On Tuesday, he beat Salem?s Brandon Mustafaraj, 6-2, 6-2.
?(Ba) has the best individual record overall,” said Hayward. “He?s handled the pressure very well and has come up with some big wins for us.”
It was a battle in the first doubles? match, but the Classical team of Alex Chea and David Hincapie won over Jared Lubas and Pete Duffy, 4-6, 6-3, 6-3.
?They get better every match,” Hayward said of his first doubles? duo. “They?re as physically talented as any other pairing in the league.”
Classical?s Patrick Gibb and Simon Kazimierczyk won over Jared Robinson and Alex Wang in the second doubles, 6-4, 6-1.
?These two worked hard over the summer, and they?re still very new to tennis, but they?re making tremendous progress,” said Hayward.
Hayward spoke highly of every member of his team, and laughs about the problems he faces having a group of very good students comprise his tennis squad.
?They?re all great kids, some of the best students in the school,” Hayward said. “We get a lot of conflicts and have to contend with National Honor Society events and (advanced placement) tests. It?s a good problem to have, though.”
The playoff-clinching win was sweet for Hayward, whose team is very young, but getting better with every match.
?We graduated almost our entire team a couple of years ago, and last year we had no kids with any varsity experience,” Hayward explained. “We?ve come a very long way.”Katie Morrison may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @KatieMo61.