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Gens, Burr end impressive seasons on the tennis court

OBSERVER Staff Report

LANCASTER — The end of the road came for Fredonia tennis players Neil Gens and Matt Burr at the Section VI Championships on Monday.

In singles play, Gens was the lone Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association to pick up a win on the day as he defeated Olmsted’s NyJohn Washington, 6-0, 6-1, before being defeated by Sweet Home’s Jonah Murphy, 6-0, 6-0, in the quarterfinals.

Gens finished his sophomore season with a 17-1 record.

“This is his second year at No. 1 singles and he made a big improvement,” Fredonia coach Lisa Johnston said. “He is a year-round tennis player with a lot of potential. He is a calm, focused player who is steady and consistent. His mother coaches him in the offseason so I’m more of a manger than a coach. He will take a big step next year and his goal is to make states as a senior. As a 10th grader, it is very impressive for him to win Counties and make it to Sectionals.”

Gens’ teammate, Burr, reached the Sectional tournament, but lost his opening round matchup against Akron’s Nate Chubb, 6-0, 6-0.

“Matt had a great senior season,” Johnston said. “He was 15-2 on the season at No. 2 singles. He started as a ninth grader playing doubles and this is his third year in singles. He definitely made great strides this year. He became a strategic player who was able to win the long rallies. Early in his career he would come to the net and try to win quicker, but became more patient as his career went on. He was my captain in 10th grade and has always been very mature. He is a real team leader.”

“This was my favorite season of the 12 years I have coached at Fredonia,” Johnston said. “It was a great group of boys and it was a joy to coach them.”

In other singles play, Frewsburg’s Jameson Sposato was defeated by Williamsville North’s Joe Baudo, 7-5, 6-1 and Murphy prevailed over Olean’s Filip Murawski, 6-0, 6-0.

Orchard Park’s Noah Sayoc and Declan Watson downed Southwestern’s Eston Shedd and Josh Pike, 6-0, 6-0.

Panama’s Quinn Payne and Carson Heimburg were defeated by Wilson’s Joey Hecko and Joey Lyon, 6-0, 6-1; and Panama’s Nathan Radka and Elliott Jackson were dealt a 6-2, 6-0 decision by Orchard Park’s Cole Wilkinson and Alex Freilicher in the first round.

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