LEWISTON – Despite missing its No. 1 singles player, Lewiston nearly managed to qualify three boys in for the round of 40 during Saturday’s Eastern Section III qualifying.

Almost.

Nate Theriault battled Brunswick’s Alex Wheelright down to the wire in two straight sets, but evened up on the lower end of the scoring chart both times as Wheelright, the No. 1 seed in the bracket, squeaked out a 7-6 (1), 7-5 win over Lewiston’s No. 3 player.

“He had him down 5-2 in the first set,” said Lewiston coach Ron Chicoine. “He was also down 5-1 in the second. The match was back and forth

the whole way. It was great to see.”

Theriault would have joined Mike Burke, seeded fifth to start the day, and Nick Bonenfant as Lewiston’s qualifiers. Burke defeated Wes Hines of Mt. Blue and Tom Hite of Messalonskee to reach the round of 40 in his first attempt.

“If you watched the match, you would have though it was a close, really tight match,” said Chicoine. “It was really a good one, and Burke just outplayed him.”

Bonenfant, normally a doubles player and fourth on the team’s depth chart, filled in for Lewiston No. 1 Adam Wilding and made the most of his opportunity. Bonenfant clipped Tom Morrison of Medomak Valley 8-1 and upended Chris Filteau of Waterville 6-3, 6-2 to reach his first final 40.

“According to the other coaches there, the fact that our No. 4 player can play with and beat other team’s ones and twos, we are one of the deeper teams in the east,” said Chicoine. “Nick proved he belonged there today.”

Adam Platz of Edward Little started the day as the No. 7 seed in the tournament, but lost a three-setter to Peter Stein of Camden Hills in the third round.

The biggest upset of the day on the boys’ side came from Filteau, who cut down No. 2 seed Willie Guerette of Gardiner in the second round before bowing out to Bonenfant.

Andrew Dunlap of Morse ousted No. 3 seed Tyler Hunt of Cony in three sets, and Chris Robinson of Brunswick sent No. 6 seed Beau Archambault of Mt. Ararat home with a two-set win.

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