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Team members include seated L-R: Praneeth Ganedi, co-captains Justin Veilleux and Aedan Spaar and Darsh Patel. Middle row L-R: Charles Hall, Chris Delise, Rich Loftis, Dan McGuire, Jaden Andersen and Will Benni. Top row L-R: coach Matt Fraenza, Kurt Schalper, Bradley Stutzman, Shane Dostie, Eli Hanlon, Paul Riccio and Dan Pagliaro
The Branford boys’ tennis team swept the visiting Wilbur Cross Governors at the Branford High School tennis courts on Thursday with a 7 – 0 victory. Each team now stands at 3 – 5.
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Darsh Patel returns a shot in his match. He won 6-3, 6-0.
Branford dominated the match winning all four singles matches and all three doubles matches.
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Not what it looks like. The ball from the court in front appears after Brad Strutzman returns his shot on the back court.
Cross won only 10 games in all seven matches. “We are starting to find chemistry in doubles, and our singles players have shown consistency in their approach in each match,” Hornet coach Matt Fraenza said in an interview.
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Coach Matt Fraenza with co-captains Justin Veilleux (L) and Aedan Spaar
Cross started out the season with three wins in their first four matches. They have not only lost the last four games, they have been shutout in all of them.
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Playing well for Branford in singles was sophomore Paneeth Ganedi, (pictured) the Hornets’ number one player. He defeated his opponent Angelica Rodriguez, 6 – 3, 6 – 0.
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Playing at number two was junior Brad Stutzman who shut out Charlie Oir, 6 – 0, 6 – 0. Playing at number three was Co-captain Aedan Spaar, (pictured)who beat Mark Gorski, 6 – 0, 6 – 1.
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Here Stutzman shuts out his opponent 6 – 0, 6 – 0
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The final singles match went to senior Darsh Patel who won 6 – 2, 6 – 2 for the sweep.(See top photo.) Here Praneeth Ganedi returns a drop shot at the net
“Wilbur Cross has shown the willingness to learn the game of tennis and has improved each year that I have seen them in match play,” Fraenza said after the match.
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Doubles winners for Branford included Eli Hanlon and Will Benni, 6 – 1, 6 – 1 (pictured); Charles Hall and Chris Delise, 6 – 0, 6 – 0; and Co — captain Justin Veilleux and Paul Riccio, 6 – 0, 6 – 0.
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Here are Hall and Delise.
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And Paul Riccio (L) and Justin Veilleux.
The Hornets have a very busy week coming up with four matches, including Monday at Career at Edgewood Park, Tuesday at Fairfield Prep, Wednesday at home against Jonathan Law and Friday at home against Shelton. All matches start at 3:45 p.m.
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