Second-seeded Brunswick (12-0) topped familiar foe Avon Old Farms by a 5-2 score in the semifinal round of the HEAD U.S. High School Team Championships on Saturday night at Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn. With the win, the Bruins advance to play top-seeded Haverford at noon on Sunday for the national title along with the Justi Cup for the top program in the country.
The reigning two-time national champions bested Avon Old Farms for the second straight year in the semifinals. The Bruins won individual matches at #1, #2, #3, #6 and #7 for the 5-2 victory.
Semifinal results by order of finish:
7. (B) Dana Santry def. (A) Jack Lazor 11-8,11-9,11-6
2. (B) Max Finkelstein def. (A) Josiah Griffith 11-9,11-2,11-6
5. (A) Henry Smith def. (B) Nick Spizzirri 11-8,13-15,11-9,7-11,13-11
3. (B) Will Holey def. (A) Mac Awalt 11-5,6-11,11-7,4-11,11-8
6. (B) Brian Leonard def. (A) Khamal Cumberbatch 8-11,11-7,11-9,11-7
1. (B) Tyler Carney def. (A) Will Curtis 7-11,11-5,11-5,11-6
4. (A) Dennis Jones def. (B) Tate Huffman 11-8,11-6,11-5
The 2017 title game against Haverford is a rematch of the 2016 championship, where the Bruins won a 4-3 contest in Philadelphia.
A combined eight players, four each from Brunswick and Haverford, competed in last year’s championship match. Tyler Carney, Max Finkelstein, Patrick Feeley, and Will Holey played for Brunswick, along with Haverford veterans Duncan Joyce, Peter Miller, Grant Sterman, and William Glaser played for the 2016 title.