Jim Thorpe tops Tribe

Norb Lienhard’s candor told the story.

“They’re gonna give me grey hair,” the veteran Jim Thorpe tennis coach said with a laugh.

Lienhard’s Olympians bent.

But they didn’t break.

Jim Thorpe turned back Lehighton to claim its first victory of the season with a 4-1 triumph on Monday.

“Lehighton moved us around,” said Lienhard. “They were pushing my kids right and left; they were moving my kids up and down, and back and forth. And my kids weren’t doing that enough to them. Lehighton stayed in it. It was a good, close match. We were lucky to pull that one out.”

After losing their top two singles players from a year ago in Shaun DiCostanzo and Matt Green, Lienhard put the onus on senior John Fedora to come through as the team’s top singles player this season.

Fedora passed a stiff test against the Indians’ Maura Phelan, rallying for a 2-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.

“I put all the pressure on him today,” Lienhard said afterward. “And I told the kids that, and I told the kids his response to me because I want them to hear that. He’s a senior, he’s a captain, and he took the leadership today … and he went all out for it.

“So I want the kids to know that, so it can rub off on them.”

Fedora enjoyed the opportunity to step into the leadership role for the Olympians (1-1).

“It definitely boosts your confidence a whole lot,” Fedora said of the win. “Coming into this match, I wasn’t really sure what was going to happen. But now, I’m confident in myself that I’m going to be able to play the season well.”

Phelan showed her prowess playing No. 1 singles, keeping Fedora on his heels, though that wasn’t a surprise for Indians’ first-year head coach Joseph Zarelli.

“I’m excited to see how Maura does,” Zarelli said. “I think she played really well. She had some great moments today. It speaks to her athleticism and skill set.”

Jim Thorpe’s No. 1 doubles team of Matt Widdicombe and Connor Rogers showed their resolve with a 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 win over Lehighton’s Nate Pettit-Clair and Tyler Steigerwalt.

With Widdicombe a senior, and Rogers a freshman, the duo are still finding their way. But they took a big step forward in their development with the three set win.

“For them to battle back and get a victory, it just shows them that they can do it,” Lienhard said. “Because I’ve got young kids playing doubles, some kids that never played before. So this win early in the season, is such a big boost for us. Now, they know they can do it, and hopefully, it just gets better and better each match.”

Zarelli is hoping for the same from Pettit-Clair and Steigerwalt.

“I though Tyler and Nate showed a lot of potential,” said Zarelli. “The athletic gene is there. For them, it’s going to be about learning the positional awareness and really some of the basics of tennis when it comes to doubles to be a successful team. They definitely have the ability, so that’s exciting.”

Olivia Frendt came back from down 4-3 and 5-4 in the first set to defeat Emilio Mercado 7-5, 6-3 at No. 2 singles for the Indians (0-1).

SWITCH … Jim Thorpe’s match today against Notre Dame East Stroudsburg will now be a home contest starting at 4 p.m. The match was originally scheduled to take place at Notre Dame.

POSTPONED … Lehighton’s match at Notre Dame East Stroudsburg, scheduled for Wednesday, has been postponed.

Jim Thorpe 4, Lehighton 1

SINGLES

John Fedora (JT) def. Maura Phelan 2-6, 6-3, 6-0; Olivia Frendt (L) def. Emilio Mercado 7-5, 6-3; Raymond O’Neil (JT) def. Gavin Cressley 6-2, 6-4.

DOUBLES

Matt Widdicombe/Connor Rogers (JT) def. Nate Pettit-Clair/Tyler Steigerwalt 7-5, 4-6, 6-3; Erik McLain-Walter/Nolan Rehrig (JT) def. Bryce Smith/Miranda Pettit 6-1, 6-1.