Yarmouth boys, Cape Elizabeth girls capture Class B tennis titles
Yarmouth’s boys tennis team added another chapter to its dynasty on Wednesday, capturing its seventh straight Class B state title with a clean‑sweep victory over Hermon at the Wallach Tennis Center on the Bates College campus in Lewiston. The Clippers, who entered the match with a 15‑1 record, won all five contests to claim their 12th overall championship in program history.
The decisive points came quickly. Alexander Gordon opened the day with a 6‑1, 6‑0 win at No. 2 singles over Ashlin Searway. The No. 2 doubles pair of Zach Young and Pablo Sonenberg then dispatched Kobe Hills and Keane Oxley 6‑0, 6‑1. Aidan Forrest sealed the team title at No. 3 singles, beating Nate Sullivan 6‑1, 6‑1. The final two points arrived in the doubles flights: Aiden Brooks and John Nicholas edged James Brocato and Carter Dubois 6‑3, 7‑6(4) at No. 1 doubles, while James Hartnett closed the day with a 6‑1, 6‑1 triumph over Chase Jensen at No. 1 singles.
Yarmouth senior Aidan Forrest reflected on the run, saying, “It feels great. All four of my years now, we’ve won states. It’s just an honor to be part of such a great program.” Head coach Gabe Gordon praised the depth of his roster, noting, “I’m so proud of the guys, it was a real team effort. We had almost 19 guys on varsity this year. At least 15 or 16 guys had varsity matches this season. I’m so proud of the entire team, playing really hard, practicing hard, and I couldn’t be any prouder of the boys.” Senior Alexander Gordon added perspective on a earlier season loss to Camden Hills, calling it “a gift” that reminded the team of the work required to stay atop the class.
Across the court, Hermon’s Hawks celebrated a season that surpassed preseason expectations. Finishing 14‑2 overall, the No. 2 North seed knocked off previously unbeaten Caribou to win the regional championship before falling in the state final. Coach Matt Murray described the year as “historic,” saying the squad’s initial goals were simply to finish above .500 and win a playoff match, achievements they far exceeded. “These guys threw themselves into it for three months,” Murray said, “and I’m so proud of that.”
On the girls’ side, Cape Elizabeth earned its first Class B title since 2016, defeating Waterville 3‑2 in a tightly contested final. The Capers, who entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed, knocked off Yarmouth in the semifinals, topped No. 3 Cony in the regional final, and then prevailed over Waterville to claim their 15th state championship overall.
The victory was built on strong doubles play. Kaia Craig and Gillian Lench recovered from a first‑set loss to beat Brooklyn Hart and Ava Libby 3‑6, 6‑4, 6‑3 at No. 1 doubles, while Noelle Mallory and Genny Carignan secured the second point with a 6‑4, 7‑5 win over Nina Mitchell and Gwen Lord at No. 2 doubles. Allegra Adler gave Cape a lead in singles, downing Sadie St. Peter 6‑0, 4‑6, 6‑0 at No. 2 singles. Waterville responded with Hannah Zeimetz’s 2‑6, 6‑2, 6‑3 win at No. 3 singles and Piper Hamilton’s 7‑5, 6‑2 triumph over Emma Gebhart at No. 1 singles, forcing a deciding match that the Capers ultimately won.
Cape senior Gillian Lench summed up the feeling after the match: “It feels so good, it feels great.” Teammate Emma Gebhart emphasized the team’s approach, stating, “We just tried to play to our strengths, rather than figure (Waterville) out.” Coach Sarah Boeckel, who wore the same pair of sneakers she had on when Cape won the 2016 title, lauded her squad’s mental toughness: “They saw that they had a chance to go all the way (and followed through). We knew that this match was going to be tough. Waterville is tough. We haven’t gone to a lot of three‑set matches. I’m just so proud of how mentally tough they were today.”
Waterville, which finished the season 14‑2, acknowledged the challenge. Co‑head coach Devin Lachapelle said, “It’s been a great season and a lot of hard work… Obviously, the season went really well and we did well in the North. But Cape’s a great team. Five years ago, we beat them 3‑2 (for the state title), and they returned the favor today. It’s always a good match with them.” The Purple Panthers, the No. 2 North seed, defeated Presque Isle in the regional final and anticipate returning nearly all of their players next season.
Both finals underscored the depth of talent in Maine’s high school tennis scene, with Yarmouth’s boys continuing a historic run and Cape Elizabeth’s girls reclaiming a spot atop the Class B podium after a six‑year hiatus.
