It’s a great time to be involved with Amesbury tennis.
That is, if you like being a part of ascending programs.
A year ago, the Amesbury boys were able to squeak into the Division 4 playoffs, but really weren’t able to make a lot of noise. Which, in all honesty, has sort of been the trend of the program this decade, following the 2019 team making it to the then-Division 3 North Finals.
But that all changed this spring.
After a 4-2 start to the season, you kind of got the feeling that it was going to be a special year for the Redhawks. And that ultimately proved true, with the program earning the No. 8 seed in this year’s Division 4 state tournament, and advancing to Thursday’s state quarterfinal. The Redhawks had to face a familiar foe in the Elite 8, and ended up seeing their season come to an end following a 5-0 loss to top-ranked Hamilton-Wenham.
But, man, what a year it was.
Andrew Roberts had a marathon, three-hour match at No. 3 singles for Amesbury (6-10) on Thursday, and nearly pulled it off before falling in a tiebreker. The Generals (18-1), though, are ranked No. 1 for a reason, and it was tough for the Redhawks playing on back-to-back days — both in intense heat — after winning their Round of 16 match over No. 9 Lee on Wednesday.
During that 3-2 Sweet 16 triumph, the Redhawks got singles wins from Luke Sheehan at No. 1 and Noah Blouin at No. 2, as well as a three-set doubles victory from the team of Max Kerstein and Julian Sherwood. The team also saw Roberts put up a good fight in that one, along with its other doubles team of Eli Kobel and Sebastian Cordes.
Amesbury girls battle hard, but bow out in Elite 8
Then it’s really been a similar story for the Amesbury girls as well.
Wins in 2024: 1.
Wins in 2025: 5.
Now wins in 2026: 7.
A positive trend that’s pretty plain for anybody to see.
On a hot Thursday afternoon, No. 4 Amesbury also had to pull back-to-back days of playing an important playoff match, following beating No. 13 Sturgis Charter in the Division 4 Round of 16 on Wednesday, 5-0. Maybe that played a factor in the final result, but in the state quarterfinals on Thursday, the Redhawks saw their great playoff run come to an end after a close 3-2 loss to No. 5 Bromfield School.
After a great fight, the Redhawks (7-10) are onto the summer.
But not after an excellent season.
And against Lee in the Round of 16 on Wednesday, everyone on the team played their part in the sweep. Both Maeve Snyder (6-0, 6-1) and Kenzie Cameron (6-0, 6-0) dominated their Nos. 1 and 2 singles matches, and at No. 3, Katie Welch came back from down 2-4 in the second set to win her overall match, 6-0, 6-4. Then at doubles, the first team of Maggie Francis and Sammie Porter won 6-2, 6-2, while the second unit of Bailey Kimball and Liv Thorpe took their match, 6-2, 6-4.
The Redhawks will be back next year.