By Rod Pakus
(June 2, 2025) — The Haddam-Killingworth High School Boys Tennis team defeated visiting Cromwell 5-2 in the opening round of the State CIAC Class S Tournament on May 31, 2025. The Cougars won 3 of the 4 singles matches and 2 of the 3 doubles matches contested.
Although HKHS lost at #1 singles, “the final score doesn’t accurately represent how the match was played,” said Coach Rod Pakus, “Sharan (Manick) played at his usual high level, but I’m not sure I’ve ever seen Bryce (Leiberman) play better, it was a great match.”
The rest of H-K’s singles roster won their matches in straight sets, while the #1 doubles duo of Chase Smalley and Michael Perry were pushed in a 7-5, 7-5 match to secure the win. The #3 doubles team of Larson McLaughlin and Jackson Smith completed their match and were the first off the courts, setting the tone for the match. With the win the Cougars advance to the quarterfinals scheduled June 2, 2025 with an opponent yet to be determined.
Individual Match Scores are as follows:
Singles
1 Sharan Manick (C) d. Bryce Leiberman (H-K) 6-2, 6-1
2 Tyler Medina (H-K) d. Thomas Gradziki (C) 6-0, 6-0
3 Matthew Medina (H-K) d. Nolan Bishop (C) 6-2, 6-1
4 Joseph Wessinger (H-K) d. Matt Sawiki (C) 6-0, 6-2
Doubles
1 Chase Smalley/Michael Perry (H-K) d. Matt Gish/Jack Nolan (C) 7-5, 7-5
2 Aiden Redzick/Marco Ferrrara (C) d. AJ Livingston/Joseph Lucero (H-K) 6-4, 6-3
3 Larson McLaughlin/Jackson Smith (H-K) d. John Clark/David Baltagas (C) 6-2, 6-1
