Sectional championships for Shawnee boys’ tennis have become as much of a May tradition as Memorial Day barbeques and Mother’s Day flowers the past few years.
Last week, the Renegades won their fourth consecutive South Jersey Group IV championship, defeating district-rival Cherokee, 5–0. The win improved the Renegades’ record to a stellar 21–1.
The title was the culmination of a season head coach Jim Baker described as a total team effort. After losing last year’s first singles player and one of the state’s top players, Justin Kang, to graduation, the returning members were asked to step into larger roles in 2015.
“We had to be a real team this year,” Baker said. “More than most years without a doubt.”
Senior Andrew Corwin has been a part of all four sectional champions. Yet he feels this year’s team may be the most complete from top to bottom. The depth of the team helped Shawnee to a 21–1 record. Earlier this season, they became the first Burlington County team to beat fellow South Jersey powerhouse Moorestown since 1999. The team also took down perennial contender Haddonfield on April 23. Shawnee’s lone defeat this season was a tight, 3–2 loss to Moorestown Friends on April 19.
“This year, we definitely struggled more as a team because we don’t have a key player like we’ve had the past few years,” Corwin said. “Everyone has had to step up this year. We’ve been playing to our potential, and it’s definitely a good thing for us.”
The play of two brothers helped catapult Shawnee to the championship. Junior Eric Tecce and sophomore Cole Tecce jumped up to first and second singles, respectively, this season, and both have been up to the task for the Renegades.
Eric displayed his perseverance during the championship first singles match against Cherokee freshman Connor Dickerson. Eric fell behind, 5–0, in the first set and was visibly frustrated on the court.
“That first set, I was super tight and super nervous,” Eric said. “I was looking at 5–0 and from there I thought I could just play loose because I had nothing to lose. Then I started winning a couple games and started realizing I could come back and win the set. That changed the whole dynamic of the set.”
Eric stormed back, winning seven consecutive games to defeat Dickerson, 7–5, in the first set. Eric then breezed through the second set, winning 6–1 to close out his match.
Eric’s comeback allowed Shawnee to continue its spotless record against Cherokee. In three meetings between the teams this year, the Renegades failed to drop a single set.
Corwin, playing third singles, was the last on the court for Shawnee. He closed out his opponent, Santiago Graterol, in two straight tiebreakers to wrap up the title.
“It’s definitely a big achievement for me,” Corwin said. “It feels great, especially closing out my senior year and pulling through with the two tiebreakers in both sets.”
The season is not over for four Shawnee players, either. Both Tecce brothers will play in the NJSIAA singles tournament, and the first doubles team of Connor Baechler and Chris Machuzak will participate in the NJSIAA doubles tournament, both of which begin on May 30.
For Cole, it will be his first appearance in the singles tournament. He was one of a handful of second singles players who qualified in the state.
“I am extremely excited,” he said. “Last year, most of my teammates went and I just sat by the side watching. I am so excited to take part and show that I can be one of the top players in the state.”
Eric and Cole could face each other in the semifinals of the tournament if they both advance to that point. Eric said he’s not sure what he’d even do if that were to happen.
“If we were to play, I’d probably quit,” Eric said. “Beating him is one of the hardest things for me. He is extremely tough to beat.”
