St. Thomas Aquinas (1-0) kicked off the boy's varsity tennis season with a 6-3 victory over Oyster River (0-1) at Dearborn Park.

Half of the STA players were playing in their very first competitive tennis matches and they didn't exactly know what to expect.  After losing to OR twice last season with a pair of 8-1 defeats, the boys came into the match with little hope and a lot of nerves.  That quickly changed when the singles matches began.

Sophomore Jake McGuire got the Saints on the board first with an 8-1 victory at #4 singles.  Senior Captain Miguel Diaz, playing in his very first competitive tennis match, stepped right into the #1 spot for the Saints and was able to pick up an impressive 8-2 victory.  After losing hard fought matches at #2 and #3 singles the score was 2-2 as new matches began taking place.

Senior Hayden Blaisdell, an Assistant Captain for the Saints also playing in his very first match, looked like a veteran picking up a dominating 8-1 victory at #6 singles.

The most exciting match of the day came at #5 singles.  Looking to give STA a 4-2 lead, Junior Assistant Captain Jack Benelli got off to a fast start taking a 6-1 advantage.  OR battled back and eventually tied the match 8-8 forcing a decisive tiebreaker.  Benelli stayed composed and used his height at the net while securing the crucial point for the Saints with a thrilling 9-8 (7-5) victory.

Going into doubles up 4-2 and needing only one point to seal the win, the STA boys quickly began realizing that a team victory was possible.  After OR won #1 doubles putting pressure on STA, the Saints were able to seal the deal at #2 and #3 doubles earning the first victory of the young season and the first win for new Coach Ross Suleski.  Junior Assistant Captain Jack Dillow and Benelli earned a tough 8-5 win at #2 doubles and seniors Blaisdell and first-year player Nate Poulin picked up the 8-1 victory at #3 doubles.

A great victory to start the new season has given the Saints a lot of optimism that they will be much more competitive in 2018.  STA will face a tough test tomorrow against Portsmouth, last years' State Finalist.

Coach Suleski with his Assistant Captains Dillow, Blaisdell, and Benelli.