“These kids are becoming a problem!”
They seem to come bubbling to the top of the doubles tournaments when everyone is focused on their singles accomplishments. The Spahr kids, Caroline and Carson, have made their mark in recent State doubles events; Timmy Brownell more than held up his father’s end in winning the Parent-Child last year; and now Deven Kanwal, all of 13, led his father to an easy win in the C’s and a near victory in the Parent-Child.
You’d think the adults have enough trouble eyeing their contemporaries in the doubles draws. Now, it’s apparent that they’ll have to watch the youngsters coming up. The C draw, almost always the largest – 43 teams this year – and certainly the hardest to predict, provided the first indication that youth will be served. Deven and father Amrit narrowly escaped in the round of 16 in a five game duel with Mike McKee, recently repatriated from Paris, and partner Neil Paterson, but then cruised in three over Greg Jannetta & Matt Gibbs, more youngsters Graham Gozigian & Patrick McElroy in the semis, and Punters Cup champions Matt Bryson & Peter McIntire in the finals. More youngster problems surfaced when Cole Koeppel and dad Seth eliminated 2nd seeds James Chan & Thai Ha-Ngoc on their way to a narrow semi-final loss to Mac Caplan & Josh King. The Gozigian & McElroy pair slipped by 4th seed Curt Lefebvre & Josh Grodin in five, then Lori Stump & Matt Silver in four, before bowing to the Kanwals.
Following the Kanwals’ victory in the C’s, it was Dad’s turn to try for family win #2 in the B’s. Amrit & Charlie Humber had been seeded #2 last year but were unceremoniously dumped in the quarters by Tyler Hill & Scott Beebe. Seeded this year #4, they were determined to change their fortune in the 46-team draw. Things looked OK as they cruised through last year’s C champions, Tyler Hinckley & Andy Silipo, then Michael Wang & Andrew Matuch, then Briggs Johnson & Zach Harvey. In the semis, they squeezed by Ryan Thompson & Chris O’Brien in four, the latter having won a tense five game battle with top seeded Court Chilton & Jeff Rodman. Their opponents in the final were the surprise team of Tom and son Morgan Poor, who were the beneficiaries of some upsets in the draw’s bottom half, most notably the loss of second seeded Jon Hyett & Scott Beebe to Marc Wolpow & Simba Muhwati. The Poors survived the latter team, then Mac Davidson & Jamie Fagan to make the final. The first three games with Amrit & Charlie were very close, the fourth a runaway as last year’s disappointment was atoned for.
The Kanwal express then headed for the evening’s finale – the Parent-Child. Although unseeded, their three game victory in the quarters over Erik & Harvard varsity’s Julian Kirby was impressive. The semis against Chris & Caroline Spahr was a duel between the two kids. It took five games for Deven’s left-handed drop shots to finally wear Caroline down and secure a spot in the finals. In the top half Tom & Morgan avenged last year’s loss to the Brownells (only this time it was Bob and Jesse rather than Timmy), then won in four over Jeannie & Charlie Blasberg. The final was a brutal five game struggle with the Poors winning the first at 14, losing the second at 14, then the third to go down 2-1. At this point, fatigue became a factor as it was Amrit’s third match, and the second for the other three. Into the fifth it went with Amrit receiving most of the attention, a strategy which succeeded by the narrowest of margins, 15-13, for Tom & Morgan.
The Spahr and Brownell names were prominent again in the Sibling division. Caroline & Carson were defending champions and prevailed again this year over Timmy & Becky, this time in three. In the semis, the Brownells defeated Alli & Kristy Rubin in three while the Spahrs won over Ellie & Graham Gozigian. Graham is now playing doubles often with success as noted above in the C’s.
Continuing the Spahr family presence were Chris & Carson, surprise finalists last year to John & Dan Roberts in the A division and seeded second this year. They had a solid four game victory over Scott Poirier & Jon Hyett in the quarters, then fell in five to Max Montgelas & Doug Lifford. Doug’s won this title eight times and entered the finals once again. The top seeded Roberts brothers had little trouble with Charlie Humber & Chris O’Brien in the quarters, then three close games over Sandy Tierney & Pat Malloy, two-time former winners. The finals were interesting but never in doubt as John and Dan, professionals playing on the SDA tour, won in four.
All was not lost for Tierney, however, for he turned 60 this past year and hence was a highly prized partner in the 60’s. Joe Duffey either paid him the most or offered some other proposition. They defeated former winners Tom Poor & Malcolm Davidson in a four game semifinal, then eased by defending champions John Brazilian & Lenny Bernheimer in three. They will be a tall order to unseat for the next few years.
Turning 60 is good in one way, not so good in another. Once a force in the 50’s, Sandy & Jamie Fagan were also-rans this year, bowing to John Nimick & Jeff Rodman in the quarters. They in turn were hammered in three by defending champions Greg Zaff & Andrew Slater, who then proceeded to win again in the finals over Mac Davidson & Court Chilton. The latter pair had upset second seeded Tom Poor & former Harvard coach Bill Doyle in a four-game semi-final.
Youth was definitely served in the Womens as newly engaged Breck Haynes and newly married Fernanda Rocha, both in their 20’s, dealt decisive blows to first seeds Hope Crosier & Mary McKee in the semis, then a single digit three game destruction of Hope Prockop & Sue Greene for the title. Oldsters Sue & Hope had their hands full in the quarters with youngsters Alli Rubin (Williams ’13) and Caroline Spahr, winning the fifth at 14, then barely survived another youngster, Corey Schafer (Dartmouth ’13), & Jeanne Blasberg in a five game semi-final.
The Mixed has become a popular event with the emergence of so many women doubles players in Boston, primarily at the University Club. This year’s draw, the largest ever, began with 25 teams. Favored were Fernanda Rocha & Scott Poirier (1) and Breck Haynes & Max Montgelas (2). Overlooked (big mistake) were the Harvard Club’s pro, Sharon Bradey and her assistant, John Roberts. Trouble began in the quarters when Sharon & John ousted Hope Crosier & Chris Spahr in three, reversing a loss in 2013. In the same round, brother Dan Roberts & Alli Rubin bowed to former winners Mary McKee & Doug Lifford in four. They in turn were beaten in the semis by Breck & Max in four while in the upper semi, Sharon & John squeezed past Rocha & Poirier by 15-14 in the fourth game. The finals was no contest, going in three to Bradey & Roberts as Sharon made no errors and John finished off the points.
The 2014 State Doubles was almost the largest ever with 206 players comprising 174 teams. The tournament is now perhaps the largest national doubles event outside the U.S. national championships. The increasing presence of juniors and more club members from places like Marblehead, Cross Courts, and the Union Boat Club is both a testament to the attraction of the doubles game and the foundation for even larger tournaments and play in the future.
Full draws, pictures and past champions are on the Mass Squash web site.