Click here to see the NEPSAC Class A Tennis Tournament Breakdown.
Check out the Nepsac draws at http://www.preptennis.org/netc10.htm
Before I get into the tournament match ups and predictions I want to dedicate a quick paragraph to the selection process. Somehow I managed to only predict 5 of the 8 tournament teams when I did my Class B Bracketology and I'm pretty sure it's because St. Paul's and Nobles declined bids to go to New England's. While I'm happy that BB&N made it into the field I can't understand why Nobles keeps refusing to play New England's. With all due respect, why would you even bother to play the regular season if you have no interest in playing in the playoffs? Why does Nobles even bother to field a team if they don't want to compete when it matters most? Is it that they're afraid of losing?
I'm not positive but these past two years may have been Nobles' only good tennis teams ever and for some reason they're afraid to play with the big boys. Last year I remember that Nobles would have gotten the 2nd seed but they didn't play because they had "things to do" and they "wanted to rest for the Milton match." That's a bunch of shenanigans. Why play at all? I'm sure I'm going to get an email explanation after this post but like they said in Wedding Crashers, Rule #76 "No Excuses Play Like A Champion."
Check out the Nepsac draws at http://www.preptennis.org/netc10.htm
Before I get into the tournament match ups and predictions I want to dedicate a quick paragraph to the selection process. Somehow I managed to only predict 5 of the 8 tournament teams when I did my Class B Bracketology and I'm pretty sure it's because St. Paul's and Nobles declined bids to go to New England's. While I'm happy that BB&N made it into the field I can't understand why Nobles keeps refusing to play New England's. With all due respect, why would you even bother to play the regular season if you have no interest in playing in the playoffs? Why does Nobles even bother to field a team if they don't want to compete when it matters most? Is it that they're afraid of losing?
I'm not positive but these past two years may have been Nobles' only good tennis teams ever and for some reason they're afraid to play with the big boys. Last year I remember that Nobles would have gotten the 2nd seed but they didn't play because they had "things to do" and they "wanted to rest for the Milton match." That's a bunch of shenanigans. Why play at all? I'm sure I'm going to get an email explanation after this post but like they said in Wedding Crashers, Rule #76 "No Excuses Play Like A Champion."
I have no idea why St. Paul's is playing but this is the first time since I started playing high school tennis that they've declined a bid. Baffling stuff. Berkshire wasn't on my radar at all and they've only dropped 2 matches all season: to Hotchkiss and Taft (both 7-0). BB&N and Tabor made the tournament for the second straight year because of the withdrawals of St. Paul's and Nobles.
First Round Matchups
TOP HALF
(1st Seed, 1) Brunswick School vs. (9) Tabor Academy
In a rematch of last year's semi-final, Tabor should be no match for this undefeated Brunswick squad. Brunswick takes this match 4-0.
(3) Belmont Hill School vs. (8) Moses Brown School
This might be Moses Brown's first appearance in ten years or so but Belmont Hill will prove to be far too strong. Belmont Hill cruises to a 4-0 win.
BOTTOM HALF
(5) Roxbury Latin vs. (Unranked) Berkshire School
Roxbury Latin beat Andover 4-3, Andover beat Taft 4-3, Taft beat Berkshire 7-0. This should be an easy win for RL 4-0.
(2nd Seed, 2) Hopkins School vs. (Unranked) Buckingham Browne & Nichols School
Hopkins only loss this season came against Brunswick and they aren't going to be tested until the finals; Hopkins wins 4-0.
Semi-Finals
(1st Seed) Brunswick School vs. (3) Belmont Hill School
The most interesting matchup should be the 1st singles battle between Carl Reid '13 (Belmont Hill) and Sam King '10 (Brunswick) but other than that I think that the FAA's best team will dominate the ISL Champion. I'm predicting a 4-0 victory for Brunswick.
(2nd Seed) Hopkins School vs. (5) Roxbury Latin School
Hopkins has way too much fire power for Roxbury Latin and they should roll to a 4-0 victory, setting up a rematch of last year's final with Brunswick.
Finals
(1st Seed) Brunswick School vs. (2nd Seed) Hopkins School
Brunswick has won the last two Class B Championships so they have a chance to three-peat on Sunday against a Hopkins team that they've beaten 4-3 three times in the past two years (if I'm not mistaken). Considering how ridiculously close their last match up was I expect nothing less than a 4-3 result in the final. The New England's match should prove to be very different from the regular season match though because New England's is a 6 singles, 3 doubles format instead of the standard FAA League 4 singles, 3 doubles format where ten players have to play. It's kind of a battle between USTA Connecticut versus USTA New York players because from what I can tell most of Brunswick's players are ranked in the Eastern Section. I like Hopkins to reverse the fortunes and win this one 4-3, too bad it's in CT (at Hoplkins) because I'd love to watch this showdown. If you haven't read the writeup about the Hopkins-Brunswick regular season match, it's worth reading.
Check back on Saturday and Sunday for Live Coverage and Match Write ups.
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4 comments:
How did BBN get in when they are 5-6. Don't u need at least a .500 record?
Bbn is 6-7 in the isl, 9-7 overall so they are over 500. Plus I think that only results up to may 7th count in the selection process.
Just for the record, BB&N beat Tabor who beat Moses Brown so if Tabor and Moses Brown get in to the tournament it's hard to argue with BB&N getting in. Plus, BB&N is probably a stronger team than Berkshire too.
Im pretty sure your correct in assuming that the Nobles team is full of loss-fearing pansies. Let them feel the wrath of truth.
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