Mariners’ Becton upbeat about singles tourney

Grace Becton doesn’t see herself as a trailblazer.

But the Deer Isle-Stonington senior has taken tennis at her school to a new level after being seeded eighth for this weekend’s state schoolgirl tennis tournament to be held in Lewiston. Becton is the first Mariner to compete in the singles tournament, which should come as no surprise given that the school does not field a varsity team.

That may come some day, as Deer Isle-Stonington currently has an active tennis club that boasts 18 players.

“There’s a lot of interest in tennis in our area,” said Deer Isle-Stonington athletic director Matt Larsen. “Last year it came together where we were able to start a club team. We kind of missed the boat in terms of getting Grace eligible for the singles tournament last year, but this year we were really proactive about it and worked out a cooperative affiliation with George Stevens Academy [of Blue Hill].”

Becton didn’t participate in any regular season varsity matches this spring, only exhibitions the Mariners played against George Stevens and Sumner of East Sullivan.

But that exposure, particularly in a win against Sumner on the day of the regional seedings, was enough to get her seeded second behind Emily Christie of MDI for her state singles qualifying tourney at Colby College. Becton then advanced to the Round of 40 by defeating Tamlyn Frederick of Foxcroft Academy 8-4 and Kalli Irvin of MDI 6-2, 6-1, and gained an additional surprise when she was seeded eighth in the statewide field.

“When regionals came around and I was seeded second, I was ecstatic because I didn’t realize anybody knew me,” said the 17-year-old Becton, a Deer Isle resident who will attend Yale University in the fall. “I had never played a real season match and I hadn’t been in the singles tournament before, so I was pretty surprised when that happened and I’m surprised to get the eighth seed now.”

While Becton may be a newcomer on the statewide scene, she has become a familiar face in Hancock County tennis circles. She played regularly last winter with Mount Desert Island standout Emily Christie – the No. 3 seed for the state tournament – under the watchful eye of Bob Christie, Emily’s father and the coach at MDI.

“We played each other four days a week at Ellsworth,” said Becton, who first took up the sport at about age 5. “It was great to be able to hit with Emily.”

One problem Deer Isle-Stonington’s fledgling tennis program faces is a lack of courts at the school. The club team does have access to private courts in the area for practice purposes.

“Maybe Grace getting through this year might be just the thing to get things going,” Larsen said.

The state girls’ tournament is expected to be the domain of freshman sensation Camille Jania of Scarborough. Jania, the No. 1 ranked player in New England in both the 16-and-under and 18-and-under girls’ divisions, is undefeated this season – and has yet to lose a game.

“I’ve heard about her,” said Becton. “I’d meet her if we get to the [quarterfinals], and hopefully I’ll get that far.”

Kristen Meahl of Falmouth, who reached last year’s semifinals before falling to 2004 state champ Laura Stein of Camden Hills of Rockport, is seeded second, followed by Christie, Ginny Petrovek of Yarmouth, Marcia Gilbride of Mount Ararat of Topsham, Lauren Coupal of York, Deahna Giguere of Messalonskee of Oakland, and Becton.

The boys field features both of last year’s finalists and three of the four semifinalists. Bryan Brown of Bangor is the defending champion, having edged Hampden Academy’s Eliot Potvin in a three-set state final a year ago.

Those players have met twice during the 2005 regular season, with Potvin winning an 8-0 pro-set match indoors on April 29 and a 6-4, 7-5 decision outdoors at Bangor High on May 9 en route to earning the top seed in this year’s field.

Potvin, a sophomore whose only losses in high school competition came against Brown in last year’s state final and in the New England championship match, was seeded second last year.

Brown, a senior who also has led the Bangor boys team to an undefeated record this spring, is seeded second this year, while Cape Elizabeth’s Garret Currier – last year’s top seed -is third.

Adam Wilding of Lewiston, Parker Swenson of North Yarmouth Academy, Neall Oliver of Deering of Portland, Jonny Asen of Waynflete and Joey Michalakes of Camden Hills round out the eight seeded players.