You didn’t really think the Waynflete boys’ tennis team would feel that eight was enough, did you?

The Flyers, who have won every Class C state title since 2008, find themselves two wins shy of a ninth consecutive crown and they’ll be joined at Thursday’s regional final in Lewiston by Waynflete’s girls’ squad, which won Class C every year from 2011-14 before falling short a year ago.

The Flyers boys went 10-2 in the regular season, losing only to two-time defending Class A champion Falmouth and three-time Class B champion Cape Elizabeth, and earned the No. 4 seed in Class C South.

Last week, Waynflete blanked No. 5 Madison, 5-0, in the quarterfinals, then won at top-ranked Boothbay, 4-1, in the semifinals to make it 33 straight playoff match wins.

The Flyers meet No. 3 Hall-Dale (13-1) in the regional final. The teams don’t play in the regular season. A year ago, Waynflete beat Hall-Dale, 5-0, in the regional final. The Flyers are 5-0 all-time in playoff meetings against the Bulldogs.

The winner will play either George Stevens Academy or Orono in the state match Saturday in Lewiston.

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Waynflete’s girls’ squad went 6-6 in the regular season and wound up sixth in Class C South. The Flyers won at No. 3 Carrabec, 4-1, in the quarterfinals, then held off No. 2 Winthrop, 3-2, in the semifinals to advance to meet top-ranked St. Dom’s (14-0) in the regional final.

The teams don’t play in the regular season. Last year, in the semifinals, Waynflete prevailed, 3-2. The Flyers are 2-0 all time in the playoffs against the Saints.

The Waynflete-St. Dom’s winner will meet either George Stevens Academy or Matttanawcook Academy in the state match Saturday in Lewiston.

Wait ’til next year

While the Waynflete teams were able to make it to the regional finals, the six other local squads who qualified for the playoffs weren’t able to advance past the semifinals.

Portland’s boys’ squad had a stellar regular season and earned the No. 4 seed in Class A South. The Bulldogs enjoyed a 4-1 win over No. 5 Scarborough in the quarterfinal round, but Saturday, Portland met its match in top-ranked Thornton Academy, as the Golden Trojans prevailed, 5-0, to end the Bulldogs’ season at 11-3.

Deering, ranked sixth, upset No. 3 Gorham, 3-2, in the quarterfinals, then, despite a valiant effort, lost to top-ranked Falmouth, the two-time defending Class A state champion, 3-2, Saturday to finish 10-4.

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Cheverus, the No. 10 seed in Class A South, was blanked by No. 7 South Portland, 5-0, in the preliminary round and wound up 3-10.

On the girls’ side, Portland, which has been a perennial contender in recent seasons, earned the No. 6 seed in Class A South and sent No. 11 Bonny Eagle packing in the preliminary round, 4-1, but the Bulldogs then lost, 5-0, at No. 3 Gorham to finish the year 9-5.

Cheverus, ranked seventh, defeated No. 10 Massabesic, 5-0, in the preliminary round, but had its season ended by second-ranked Scarborough in the quarterfinals, 5-0, as the Stags finished 9-5.

Deering earned the No. 8 seed and ousted ninth-ranked South Portland, 4-1, in the preliminary round. The Rams then became victim number 138 in top-ranked Falmouth’s mindboggling, state-record match win streak in the quarterfinals Saturday, losing, 5-0, to wind up 9-5.

McAuley was the lone city squad which failed to make the playoffs. The Lions finished 2-10.

Sports Editor Michael Hoffer can be reached at mhoffer@theforecaster.net. Follow him on Twitter: @foresports.


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