The Newburyport boys tennis program is going to miss Brindley Fisher next spring.
For the past four years, the stalwart has been as reliable of a doubles player that you’d find. As in, he’s already been named a Daily News All-Star three times over his high school career, and during the past two years, he’s been our MVP along with different former teammates, Spencer Colwell and Caden Eiserman.
Well, now make that a four-time Daily News All-Star and three-time MVP.
This spring, Fisher would ultimately work with four different partners at No. 1 doubles, but was unbeatable with top partner, and this year’s fellow co-Daily News MVP, Lucas Palen. The duo had a combined season-long record of 30-4, and together as partners, they were a perfect 8-0. For the sophomore Palen, this is already his second Daily News All-Star nod, after earning the title last year as the team’s No. 3 singles player.
No matter the situation, the duo always delivered.
Fisher would finish the year with a 15-2 record, going a near flawless 15-1 at No. 1 doubles with, again, ultimately four different partners. For Palen, he would start the year going 7-2 at No. 3 singles, but wouldn’t lose the rest of the way once getting paired up with Fisher, also finishing the year at 15-2. The duo — especially Fisher as a senior tri-captain — were both immense in helping Newburyport (16-2) win the CAL Kinney title and go on a run to the Division 3 quarterfinals.
You could tell it was going to be a special season for both right away, as early on Newburyport beat Lynnfield twice — handing the Pioneers their first loss in the CAL in six years. Fisher and teammate Ronan Refour won both times at No. 1 doubles (7-6, 6-4; 6-4, 6-1), while Palen won a match at No. 3 singles (7-6, 7-5). But magic started to happen as soon as they were teammed up, as they earned quick, crushing wins over the likes of Rockport (6-0, 6-0), Gloucester (6-0, 6-0), North Reading (6-3, 7-5), Pentucket (6-1, 6-4) and Ipswich (6-0, 6-3). They would end the regular season with a huge victory to help the Clippers beat Marblehead (2-6, 6-3, 7-5), then shortly after, Fisher was named to the 10-person All-CAL First Team.
And the success only continued in the Division 3 playoffs.
Fisher and Palen would open with a dominant win over Tantasqua in the first round, 6-2, 6-0, then follow with a comeback, three-set win over Dover-Sherborn in the Round of 16, 5-7, 6-4, 6-4. That win advanced Newburyport to the quarterfinals, where it would get matched up with — at the time — the seven-time defending state champion in Weston. The Clippers would see their season end with a 4-1 loss, with Fisher and Palen providing the team’s lone match victory, 7-5, 6-2.
Austin Yim
Newburyport, Sr., Singles
Entered the program as an 8th-grader in 2021, and now leaves as a three-time Daily News All-Star even after tearing his ACL and missing his sophomore year. Two-year No. 1 singles player had an 8-7 record this spring. Senior tri-captain led Newburyport (16-2) to the CAL Kinney title and the Division 3 quarterfinals. Won his opening playoff match against Tantasqua, 6-3, 6-0. Arguable biggest win came against eventual Division 4 State Champion Manchester Essex and Princeton-bound Jack Cummins, 6-1, 6-4. Earned a 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 victory against a Division 2 opponent in Marblehead. Beat talented Pentucket No. 1 Cosmo Lund twice, both in three-hour, three-set marathons. Had another nice 6-2, 3-6, 10-7 win against North Reading, as well as a 6-0, 6-0 sweep in a win over Ipswich. Was also a Daily News All-Star, and a captain, in golf during the fall.
Alex Lambert
Newburyport, Sr., Singles
Ends as a two-time Daily News All-Star. Played every singles spot this spring and finished with a 13-4 record (1-1 at No. 1, 7-2 at No. 2, 5-1 at No. 3). Tri-captain helped Newburyport (16-2) win the CAL Kinney title and make a run to the Division 3 quarterfinals. Beat Tantasqua, 6-1, 6-1 in the first round, then earned a quick 6-1, 6-0 victory over Dover-Sherborn in the Round of 16. Arguable biggest win was a 6-2, 4-6, 6-0 triumph to help the Clippers hand CAL power Lynnfield its first league loss in six years. Beat Marblehead, 6-3, 7-5, then earned another nice 7-5, 6-2 win over Mystic Valley. A 7-5, 6-0 win over North Reading, and had other quick victories against Pentucket, Ipswich, Rockport and Gloucester. Was a senior quad-captain and defenseman for the hockey team this winter who finished with seven assists.
Sam Brickman/Will Forrest
Newburyport, Srs., Doubles
Senior duo dominated, finishing with an 8-2 record as a team. Brickman now leaves as a two-time Daily News All-Star, who personally had a 12-3 record this spring (4-0 at No. 1 doubles, 8-3 at No. 2 doubles). He teamed up with the emerging Forrest, who was fresh off a Daily News All-Star hockey season where he scored 8 goals with 11 assists. Forrest put up a combined 13-4 record (10-3 at No. 2 doubles, 3-1 at No. 1 doubles). Both were named to the 10-person All-CAL First Team. Together, the senior duo helped Newburyport (16-2) win the CAL Kinney and make a run to the Division 3 quarterfinals. Earned playoff victories over Tantasqua in the first round, 6-1, 6-0, and Dover-Sherborn in the Round of 16, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4. Helped the Clippers beat a Lynnfield team twice that hadn’t lost in the CAL in six years, winning two three-set marathons — 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, and 6-0, 5-7, 7-6. Also earned easy wins over North Reading, Ipswich, Rockport and Gloucester.
Ronan Refour
Newburyport, Soph., Singles
Exciting sophomore is a future top player for the program, doing most of his damage at No. 2 singles. An injury kept him out at the beginning of the year, but he would still finish with a combined 10-1 record (6-1 at No. 2 singles, 2-0 at No. 1 doubles, 2-0 at No. 2 doubles). Helped Newburyport (16-2) win the CAL Kinney title and make it to the Division 3 quarterfinals. Only loss came against state superpower Weston in the Elite 8. Would earn playoff victories over Tantasqua in the first round, 6-0, 6-1, and Dover-Sherborn in the Round of 16, 6-2, 6-4. Both No. 1 doubles victories came with teammate Brindley Fisher and in wins over Lynnfield, 7-6, 6-4 and 6-4, 6-1. The Pioneers hadn’t lost in the CAL in six years. Had a 6-4, 7-5 victory in a win over Marblehead. Also picked up quick wins over Ipswich, Rockport, Gloucester and Amesbury. Is a High Honor Roll student at Newburyport.
Cosmo Lund
Pentucket, Jr., Singles
The Georgetown native has been the No. 1 singles player for the Pentucket co-op team since entering the program as a freshman three years ago. Talented prospect just continues to get better, and this spring would post a solid 8-8 record going against ever opponent’s best player. After the program had just five combined wins over the last three seasons, Lund helped Pentucket (5-11) match that win total just this spring alone. That included a clutch victory over Amesbury, which was the program’s first win in the CAL in two years. Lund also beat North Reading, Ipswich (2x), Mystic Valley, Rockport and Danvers. Had a pair of three-hour, three-set marathon matches against Austin Yim of rival Newburyport, 7-6, 6-7, 1-6 and 6-2, 4-6, 8-10. Took a few points against undefeated Weston No. 1 Peter Chen in the Division 3 playoffs. A Georgetown Regional Honor Roll student.
Honorable Mention
Amesbury — Jared Black, Sr., singles; Noah Blouin, Jr., doubles
Newburyport — None
Pentucket — Jackson Goodwin, Sr., doubles; Jake LaCroix, Soph., doubles; Maddox Heller, Soph., singles