Lincoln forfeits match on communication error
SEEKONK – When Wheeler School head coach Joe Testa awoke Friday morning, one of his first thoughts revolved around how well his boys’ tennis team would play in a R.I. Division II Tournament quarterfinal against Lincoln that afternoon.
He figured they would notch yet another triumph, given the fact his unbeaten Warriors had earned the top seed, and the Lions only the eighth with an 8-7 mark, but how focused would they be?
Testa never found out. His crew did in fact remain perfect at 16-0, but not in the way he thought it would come about.
Due what appears to be an honest mistake, the Lions forfeited the match because head coach Matt Pavao at first didn’t know his squad had qualified for the post-season, and – by the time he discovered it had – he was unable to reassemble his players in time to catch the team bus to the contest.
“We were scheduled for a 3:45 (p.m.) start, and I got a phone call from Matt at 2:45,” Testa stated. “He told me he had messed up, that he didn’t know his team had even qualified for the playoffs (as the eighth seed). I believe my comment to him was, ‘That’s a first.’ I was very surprised, but I understand what he was thinking.
“Matt also coaches the Smithfield girls’ team in the fall, and I coach the Wheeler girls; only the top six teams in D-II qualify for the playoffs, so I can definitely see (where the error was made). He thought the system was the same for the boys as the girls.
“We were hoping to play. I told the kids we wouldn’t be, and they were a little disappointed, not to mention surprised.”
When reached during early-evening hours, Pavao took complete blame for the issue.
“It’s on me,” he stated bluntly – and sadly. “I thought the top six boys’ teams qualified like the girls’ season, not the top eight. I got an email from our AD (Brian Fineberg on Thursday), saying the team bus was scheduled for Friday for the match. I assumed it was for our JV team, who I knew was still in the playoffs.
“When Brian wrote it was at Wheeler, I just figured they were holding the JV team tournament there.”
Pavao explained school ended early on Friday – at 11 a.m. – because some students were involved in an exhibition. He said several stayed at school to witness it, but others left via bus at that time.
“Brian called me at 2:30 (p.m. Friday), saying the team bus was waiting, and I just said, ‘For what?’” he said. “I did the best I could to get all of the varsity players together, but between the prom coming up, the Memorial Day weekend and the exhibition, I could only get four. All the kids had scattered.
“I should’ve known from the e-mail, but I dismissed it; I thought it was for the JV (a contingent he doesn’t mentor). I have to say it’s not Brian’s fault; it’s nobody’s fault but my own. I just feel really bad for the kids.”
The Wheeler players remained at the courts well after the anticipated match time. Ironically, two of his Warriors happen to hail from Lincoln – junior Hunter Moore and senior Jon Gunasti. Moore teams with classmate Jan Fimmers at No. 2 doubles, while Gunasti and freshman Troy Feng represent the third doubles’ tandem
“We thought, ‘OK, if we’re not going to play, let’s have a good practice,’” Testa grinned. “That’s why we’re scrimmaging against each other now. We want the team to remain sharp. That’s pretty nice when you have as much depth as we do; the guys at the bottom of the lineup can hit with guys at the top.
“It’s only going to make the younger kids better.”
With the Lions’ forfeit, Wheeler earned an automatic semifinal bid against the victor of fourth-seeded Middletown/Rogers and fifthranked Cranston West today at 1 p.m. Just as ironic? It will be played at Lincoln High’s courts.
In the other semifinal, No. 3 Mount St. Charles will battle No. 2 Classical at 10 a.m. at the same site.