Regardless of the opposition, the Lewiston boys’ tennis team has proven it can compete anywhere and at any time. This season has been a continuation of exactly how dominant the Blue Devils have been and it is rarely a secret how each meet will be played out.

A switch to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference has provided new competition and surroundings, but the results have been the same. Lewiston moved into first place after crushing Brunswick in a battle of unbeaten teams last week to extend the longest winning streak in Class A and perhaps the entire state.

The Blue Devils haven’t lost since April of 2003. The defeat was avenged in the Class A championship match when Lewiston crushed Deering 4-1. It was rare to have two regular season opponents face each other in the state meet, but both Lewiston and Edward Little had been placed in the Eastern regional.

With three players returning, Lewiston started out with 5-0 wins against Mt. Ararat and Mt. Blue, respectively.

“The secret to our success as a team has been our strength from the top down,” Lewiston coach Ron Chicoine said. “We are tougher this year at one and two (singles) and Nick Bonenfant (12-1) has filled in nicely at three singles. James Morin has done a great job in bringing freshman Mike Sarrazin at first doubles. We have few team shutouts because we haven’t been able to win consistently at second doubles.”

Lewiston fits the bill with Mike Burke and Adam Wilding at the first two singles. Burke, a senior, moved up to No. 1 this season. Wilding, a junior, had competed at No. 1 singles the previous two seasons. Both were unbeaten until losing in the quarterfinals Tuesday in the state singles tournament.

The doubles tandems are both new, but their play and communications has been strong. Morin and Sarrazin (17-1) won the KVAC doubles championship.

The second doubles duo is comprised of freshmen Luke Bonenfant and Ben Bergeron. They are developing exponentially and could also be a factor for the Blue Devils in the playoffs.

“I think a Bangor or Hampden Academy could upset us because of our weakness second doubles along with their strength at the top,” said Chicoine. “There is a lot of pressure on the middle of our lineup to win those situations.”

Staying at home

Across the river, the Edward Little boys finished the season 5-6 after losing to Lewiston Monday. A win would have provided valuable Heal Points, but the Red Eddies are likely to be watching the playoffs from the sidelines.

“Things might not have gone our way,” Edward Little coach Norm Gellately said. “But I wouldn’t call the season disappointing. First, the season started out 0-3, following the vacation fiasco and a few of the kids never recovered from it.

Two of the singles players, Andrew Knapp and Brian Gleason, had both moved up from doubles and that’s an adjustment in itself.”

The KVAC scheduled two meets during vacation and a majority of the starters were away. A juggled lineup was overwhelmed by opponents and upon returning, the team lost a 3-2 heartbreaker to Mt. Blue on a blustery day.

Adam Platz, playing in the No.1 singles spot, was steady throughout the season. Platz, the valedictorian of the senior class, reached the Round of 40 in the state singles tournament.

Knapp added a highlight with a three-setter against Mt. Ararat last week. The poise and adjustments by Knapp were key in rallying in the final sets.

“I really thought Andrew was going to be in trouble,” Gellately said. “He had forced a third set, but the Mt. Ararat player was steady. Andrew has had to work hard, but he has developed some nice shots, particularly a backhand slice down the line.”

Another pleasant surprise has been sophomores Nate Guerrette and Ryan Goss at No. 1 doubles. The newly-formed tandem have made great strides and developed cohesiveness on the court.

“They are gaining some valuable experience,” Gellately said. “In order to be a successful doubles team, you have to work together and they do, so now they need to work on their shot selection and placement. It will come this summer or over the winter.”