The Miners boys tennis team returned from spring break Tuesday afternoon to face regional foe Highland on senior day.  Park City fought valiantly in a losing effort, winning the one and two singles matches at the PC MARC but losing at three singles and one and two doubles to drop the match 3-2. Sophomore Thomas Rogowski and junior Charlie Ginster were the victors at one and two singles, respectively. Ginster typically plays one doubles beside sophomore Johnny Lane, who fell at one doubles with Brandon Gurule Tuesday.  The Miners celebrated seniors Brocton Umstead, Joey Bevilacqua, Mateo David, Andrew Santarosa and Ryder Evulich Tuesday with a prematch ceremony. Head coach Cole Lee and his assistant Tim Donnelly offered up words of encouragement for the seniors and handed them Park City Tennis backpacks. Umstead played an exhibition four singles match, Bevilacqua and David an exhibition three doubles match and Santarosa and Evulich an exhibition four doubles match Tuesday, with all seniors losing.  Park City celebrated the senior group with words of encouragement and gifted backpacks. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record The loss dropped the Miners to 5-5. The team took on Skyline and Juan Diego Catholic on the road on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, respectively, falling 4-1 to Skyline and defeating Juan Diego 4-1 to finish the regular season 6-6. “We’ve had fantastic seniors on our team this year,” Lee said. “They’ve been the best group of kids on the team to work with. … Couldn’t be happier with the way their season has gone.” Lee has loved watching some of the seniors play doubles together this season. He said he’s going to miss the group next season.  “Really impressed with how the entire squad of seniors has progressed up to this point so far,” Lee said. “They’re going to do great things in life.” With no seniors typically playing in the lineup, the season will likely end for the group Thursday against Juan Diego. The group will practice hard until the end of the season, however, and cheer hard for their teammates at regionals and state.  With no seniors typically in the lineup, the season likely ended for the group Thursday at Juan Diego Catholic. Credit: Jonathan Herrera/Park Record “I was struggling to find a sport that I wanted to play,” Santarosa said. “I didn’t feel like any of the sports I’ve played so far had clicked with me, so me and Ryder, my best friend, neighbor and doubles partner, both decided to give tennis a shot. Cole and Tim were gracious enough to give us a spot on the team, even though we had really little to no experience, and through the team we’ve learned how to work hard, gotten in some of the best shapes of our lives and we found a new passion for tennis that I think we both are hoping to carry into college.” He continued, “It’s been a great experience, and I’d recommend that everyone give tennis a shot and try out for the team.” Santarosa loves cheering on the younger players on the team, whom he refers to as the “tennis demons.” “My favorite memories on the court are of me and Andrew,” Evulich said. “We got our first win last year, I think it was after probably four-straight losses, then we took that momentum and we went the rest of the season undefeated. … Off the court, just hanging out with all the guys on the team, some pretty great guys, especially the other seniors. It’s just always a good time. That team chemistry is definitely there.” Lee believes the team has the potential to win regionals and improve on their fourth-place standing from last year’s state meet. He thinks this year’s team is laying the foundation for future teams that could contend for state titles.  “The guys really did a good job keeping their form up over spring break,” Lee said. “These guys are really rock solid with their game and their progressions.” Bevilacqua said, “I look at some of the younger players and there’s a lot of really promising talent, especially among the sophomores and juniors. I think they definitely have a good chance at potentially winning state championships. Even though I wouldn’t be a part of the team anymore, I would still feel incredibly proud to know that at one point in time I was a part of that team.” The post Miners boys tennis falls in hardfought senior day match appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less