CARIBOU, Maine — The Vikings’ tennis team waltzed through the regular season, but could face a challenge in the upcoming Class B North playoffs due to an injury to one of its starters.
Caribou won all 12 of its regular season matches, 10 of them by scores of 5-0. The Vikings claimed the No. 2 position in the Maine Principals’ Association Heal Point standings. Caribou is set to host a quarterfinal on Thursday, May 31 against the winner of the prelim match between Presque Isle and Brewer.
The bad news for the Vikings is the recent injury suffered by the team’s No. 3 singles player, senior Alec Cyr. He suffered ligament damage to his ankle during the team’s match against Presque Isle played May 16 and missed the remainder of the regular season. Coach John Habeeb is unsure of Cyr’s status for the playoffs. If he is unable to go, Habeeb will likely call upon sophomore reserve Aiden Plante to fill Cyr’s slot in third singles.
“We haven’t really been pushed yet, but we’ll see happens with Alec and make the adjustments we need to,” Habeeb said. “If he is unavailable, we’ll probably leave our doubles teams as they are and use Aiden in singles.”
Habeeb expects Waterville, the top seed in the division also with a 12-0 mark, to give the Vikings its toughest challenge.
Sophomore Parker Deprey is the team’s No. 1 singles player. Habeeb calls him a “prototypical tennis player” due to his height (6 feet, 2 inches), strength and court coverage.
“He’s gotten taller, but he hasn’t lost any speed,” Habeeb said. “It’s hard to get a ball by him, plus he has a great head on his shoulders.”
Deprey earned the sixth seed in the MPA state singles tournament.
Emerson Duplissie-Cyr is one of four seniors on the Caribou varsity tennis team, which finished with a 12-0 regular season record. Duplissie-Cyr teams with classmate Seth Beidelman to make up the Vikings’ No. 2 doubles team. (Courtesy of Sha Lam Photography)
Gabe Rand, a junior, plays second singles this season. He was the No. 3 singles player last year and played doubles the year before that. Rand fought off knee injuries during his middle school years and has become a solid all-around player who is adept at using spins.
“He’s a true tennis player who has worked hard at his game,” Habeeb said.
The first doubles team includes senior Bailey Griffeth and freshman Sawyer Deprey. As a third-year player, Griffeth has plenty of doubles experience and Habeeb said he is equally good at net and on the baseline. Deprey grew up playing the sport, is athletic and according to his coach has a lot of potential.
The senior combination of Emerson Duplissie-Cyr and Seth Beidelman have impressively handled the No. 2 doubles position. Duplissie-Cyr is a four-year starter who is an excellent team player and a good all-around performer and Beidelman owns a good serve and forehand.
“They work well together and the experience factor should really help them,” Habeeb said.
In addition to Cyr, who Habeeb calls the “team leader,” and Plante, who started at No. 2 doubles a year ago, other players on the Vikings’ roster are freshmen Cody Martin, Logan Cheplic and Devon Ouellette.
The Caribou boys capped regular season play last Tuesday by besting Madawaska in a home match. In singles, Ryan Deprey (C) defeated Ben Hebert 8-0, Rand stopped Lance Lavoie 8-1 and Plante was victorious over Alex Daigle 8-1. In doubles, Griffeth-Sawyer Deprey blanked Max Gendreau-Andrew Nadeau 8-0 and Duplissie-Cyr and Beidelman won by forfeit.
