One wins with power, another with guile and the third with smiles. This year, Boothbay Region High School’s boys tennis team has a variety of personalities with various playing styles which all yielded the same result April 15 versus Oceanside. Boothbay needed to win all three singles matches to prevail against the Mariners, and that’s exactly what they did. No. 1 Cody Field defeated Brady Marchessault 6-2, 6-1. No. 2 Rath Schoenthal beat Andrew Peaco 6-0, 6-0. And No. 3 Andrew Fowlie defeated Nate Fogarty 6-1, 6-0. 

Boothbay’s three singles players are the entire squad which means the Seahawks will forfeit both doubles matches. So despite losing only four games in three matches, Boothbay defeated Oceanside 3-2 in the contest. Another challenge facing Boothbay this season is inexperience. Schoenthal and Fowlie are both freshmen who played their first high school matches. But the two had no problems in their debuts. Schoenthal’s strong serve and rocket forehand bludgeoned his opponent in sweeping both sets. Schoenthal played in Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club’s youth summer program last year. “I worked on (my forehand) last summer at the club, and it’s doing what I want it to do,” he said. “I played to my strengths and stayed away from his.”

Like Schoenthal, Fowlie was surprised to win his first high school singles match. Fowlie has played in the Boothbay Region YMCA youth tennis program for three years which has allowed him to build a solid baseline game. His first match was filled with consistent play and a lot of grins. “I’m surprised I won, but that’s not why I play. I want to make friends and have fun. I don’t get too competitive, and really could not care less if I win or lose.”

Senior Cody Field won a decisive victory losing only three games, but nearly every one was filled with multiple deuces. Field used his experience in drawing opponents into the net and lobbing them to score a victory. He also displays a rare tactic in tennis. Field carries on a conversation throughout the contest complimenting his opponents for good shots and competitive play. “I like to talk and chat. I think it makes for a less intimidating atmosphere, and for a more fun match.”

Spring 2021 is the first high school sports season since the coronavirus outbreak to end with a state championship tournament. All teams will make the postseason. Class C Boothbay is 1-0 and Class B Oceanside of Rockland is 0-1. Boothbay’s next match is Friday, April 23 at 11 a.m. versus Medomak Valley in Waldoboro.