April 10, 2023 – Story and photos by William Wassersug
The Hingham boys tennis team had a strong 2022 season, making it to the Division 2 state quarterfinals, and things don’t look to change much for 2023, as the team returns most of their regular starters, but has also added a few new young players who could be game-changers this season.
Hingham coach Eric Gill explains.
“I was surprised going into the season with the talent the freshman class is bringing in,” Gill said. “Parker Shultz is a ranked player in Massachusetts. Ethan Warhaftig is as well. They’re going to be a huge part of our single for the next couple of years. That was a pleasant surprise.”
After winning their season opener 5-0 against North Quincy, the Harbormen were at Cohasset on Friday and picked up a second 5-0 victory over a team that beat them twice last season.
At Cohasset, Shultz played No. 1 singles and downed Justin Wong 6-1, 6-0. Wong had moved up a spot from his usual No. 2 singles with the Skippers’ regular No. 1 Charlie Lankow out with an injury.
Warhaftig played No. 3 singles and won easily 6-0, 6-0, beating Blaine Basile.
The team has some strong returners as well, with doubles teams from last season back along with a top-three singles player.
“First doubles was Nick Dubois and Nick LaRhette,” Gill said. “They played great last season and they’re back again strong. We have Travis Rugg playing second (singles). This is the strongest team I’ve ever coached.”
Rugg won 6-2, 6-0 over Eamon Maxwell at No. 2 singles.
Dubois and LaRhette played a marathon at Cohasset, beating Royce Bleakie and Will Wildfire in a tiebreaker that lasted long after everyone else had finished.
With the match technically settled after Hingham’s second doubles, Liam Arnold and Will Baker got past Ian Linhart and Zach Smith 6-3, 6-2 for a 4-0 advantage, the first doubles could have been ended, especially on a cold, windy afternoon, but the players wanted to keep going and coaches felt the same way, leading to a spirited match with lots of people watching.
That match finally ended 7-6, 3-6, 7-3.
