Lewisburg’s Monaco looks to 3-peat at District 4 tournament

SUN-GAZETTE
FILE PHOTO
Lewisburg’s Eddie
Monaco, then a sophomore, in the midst of his first District 4 singles title run. Now a senior, he’s looking to three-peat.

At last year’s District 4 singles tournament, two familiar faces found themselves in the finals, with defending champ Eddie Monaco and fellow Green Dragon Will Cecchini matching up at the end of the bracket.

Monaco (12-2) would ultimately come out on top to secure his second title, defeating his Lewisburg teammate 6-1, 6-2. But at that time, Cecchini was a sophomore.

Now a junior with an additional year of growth and an undefeated record to defend, Cecchini (16-0) would love to have the opportunity to match up with Monaco again. Monaco hopes to meet him there as well, acknowledging his teammate’s growth and highlighting him as one of two opponents he sees as his biggest challenges.

“I think that would be really great,” said Cecchini on the prospect. “I mean, it’s Lewisburg all the way to the finals. The keys to winning there would probably be outpacing him and keeping the ball in.”

“Even my own No. 2 (Cecchini), I played him last year in the district final and I play next to him every day at practice,” said Monaco when discussing the biggest threats to his quest to three-peat. “I’ve seen him get better.”

Although Monaco enters the tournament having never endured a loss in it, that fact doesn’t affect his confidence either way.

On one end, the Lewisburg senior doesn’t see it as a confidence boost. Everyone featured in the tournament has been working hard for the chance to dethrone him and the field includes some adept athletes. Players such as No. 2 seeded Luke Friscia (Danville), whom Monaco also highlighted, could pose a serious threat.

“It’s always nice to know you’ve been there before. But every season, you start at the bottom of the mountain, and you’ve got to climb up again,” said Monaco. “A lot of people have been working hard and are trying to go for that district chip this year, so it’s going to be competitive.”

On the other, there’s no added pressure when it comes to defending. Monaco takes things one match at a time, always vying to win and give his best effort. If he were to end up falling short of a three-peat, he wouldn’t see it as the end of the world.

“If we get there, we get there. If we don’t, we don’t,” said Monaco. “But I’m going to be trying my best to get there again, so let’s see what happens.”

Nonetheless, he’s more than ready for the challenge.

He sees the work he’s put in, both through the seasons and offseasons, as his biggest advantage, logging plenty of extra hours at the Central PA Tennis Center whenever the seasons weren’t in play. It’s one the of the aspects of his game that’s given him an edge over the past few years and so far, the hard work has paid off.

“Being able to maintain your level of play throughout those two matches and making it to the final day on Monday, fitness plays a huge role,” said Monaco. “I’m playing year-round and getting better. So, I think that comes in handy towards the end of the season when that muscle memory and those habits you’ve built take over.”

“It’s going to be good. It’s going to be fun, and I’m looking forward to it,” he added on the tournament.

Outside of Lewisburg, the field features plenty of area talent. Of the five area athletes that occupy one of the eight seeds, two rep the green and white of Hughesville.

Seniors John Finnegan and Mason Thomas return to the field after competing in last year’s event, where they each advanced to the second round. Finnegan – seeded No. 4 in the year’s tourney – made it all the way to quarterfinals before falling to Central Columbia’s Matthew Getz.

Both head into the event with confidence and hold a first-round bye. Finnegan will face the winner of Loyalsock’s Evan Anderson and Central Columbia’s Luke Saracoglu and Thomas the winner of Loyalsock’s Logan Hammond and Towanda’s Haven Poll in the second round.

“I got a pretty good draw,” said Finnegan on this year’s tournament “I’ve got a bye round and then I’ve got people I think I should be able to beat.”

“I feel good. I got seeded No. 7 and the two kids I’m going to play, I think they’re beatable,” said Thomas, who could potentially see No. 2 seeded Luke Friscia in quarters if he advances. “I just have to play well. I’m just going to try to give it my best. One last year, senior year.”

In terms of area athletes, Montoursville’s Wyatt Fry is the last to be seeded, occupying No. 5 and matching up against either Galeton’s Reilley Streich or Bloomsburg’s Benn Burrell in the second round.

Rounding out tournament’s area athletes, South Williamsport’s Kayvan Shams and Wyatt Robbins, Loyalsock’s Evan Anderson, Montoursville’s James Kehrer, Milton’s Hagan Hanselman-Reigel and Wellsboro’s Jacob Abadi are also set to compete in the first round, with Anderson doing so in his first season with the team.

The tournament is set to begin at 9 a.m.

at Williamsport Area High School. It should pose plenty of excitement, so stay tuned.