Hopewell's Muia wins MAC boys tennis championship
Hopewell's Antonio Muia won the second singles tournament at the MAC championships last week. The Vikings are hoping that that victory can help buoy him and the team to more successes.
Muia, a junior, has shown improvement throughout this season and had won seven of his 12 matches at second singles in team play for Hopewell, according to coach Andy Brunette. Hopewell competes in the loaded Section 3-AA, which produced each of the top three finishers in the WPIAL singles tournament and traditionally, in recent years, has produced two of the three PIAA tournament-qualifying teams.
"If we were in any other section, we'd probably be in the battle for second place," Brunette said. "But that's just the way it is. It's pretty tough."
Just above Muia in the Vikings' regular lineup is senior Frankie DeRose. Senior Steve Vogt (third singles), sophomore Andrew Brunette (Andy's son) and junior Mitchell Meusser (first doubles) and Colin Cannister and Jonny Brady (second doubles) typically round out the lineup, with junior varsity call-up Trevor Palocsik, a sophomore, inserted as needed.
"We're trying to build the program," Andy Brunette said. "It's hard, so you have to start at the Middle School level with a program. I've been sending out fliers at the junior high to get kids interested. There are a lot of other sports at Hopewell to compete with. But we're hopeful."
Muia, a junior, has shown improvement throughout this season and had won seven of his 12 matches at second singles in team play for Hopewell, according to coach Andy Brunette. Hopewell competes in the loaded Section 3-AA, which produced each of the top three finishers in the WPIAL singles tournament and traditionally, in recent years, has produced two of the three PIAA tournament-qualifying teams.
"If we were in any other section, we'd probably be in the battle for second place," Brunette said. "But that's just the way it is. It's pretty tough."
Just above Muia in the Vikings' regular lineup is senior Frankie DeRose. Senior Steve Vogt (third singles), sophomore Andrew Brunette (Andy's son) and junior Mitchell Meusser (first doubles) and Colin Cannister and Jonny Brady (second doubles) typically round out the lineup, with junior varsity call-up Trevor Palocsik, a sophomore, inserted as needed.
"We're trying to build the program," Andy Brunette said. "It's hard, so you have to start at the Middle School level with a program. I've been sending out fliers at the junior high to get kids interested. There are a lot of other sports at Hopewell to compete with. But we're hopeful."
tennis