Bethlehem Catholic’s boys’ tennis team has undergone some restructuring with the recent injury of the Hawks’ number one singles player Curt Gruber.

Gruber is expected to be out for two weeks, but that leads right into districts which start April 22 and leagues which are April 26, so whether he will be ready to compete even then is uncertain.

In the meantime, senior Stephen Botek has taken on the number one singles spot, Gabe Velez is at two singles, and Anthony Barczynski is at three singles, up from two doubles.

Last week, the Hawks won a close match against Pocono Mountain West, 4-3. Becahi coach George Harmanos correctly predicted that the team with the stronger doubles would come out on top. Becahi’s two, three, and four doubles teams won their matches against the Panthers.

Sean Van Ormer and Maanik Singh were the first doubles team to finish, defeating Luis Bramen and Andres Peralta at number two, 6-4, 6-3.

“We would figure out spacing, like hitting it to their weaker side and exposing where they were vulnerable,” said Van Ormer. “They were trying to get in our heads with the net guy dancing around when we were serving. They were trying to make us think they were going to be everywhere on the court.”

Although Van Ormer regularly plays at two doubles, Singh plays at three doubles, so the pairing is new for the two seniors.

“I was put in kind of a pressure situation, but I think our chemistry in school has helped us a lot, and we have good communication on the court,” Singh said. “Our season started off a little on the rough side, and we were losing some easy games, but as the season’s going on, we’re starting to win those easy games we were losing. Everyone is gradually getting better.”

Coach Harmanos kept Joshua Maruscak at three doubles with a new partner, Justus Bozzi. Bozzi and Maruscak defeated Sam Goldman and Hubert Hejenowicz 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

“Justus moved up, and Josh is a freshman, and he’ll be a nice player. He’s pretty enthusiastic,” Harmanos said.

Becahi’s four doubles team has remained the same, and Charlie Pavis and Brett Wyatt defeated Christian Cruz and Gabe Goldstein, 6-2, 6-1.

In singles play, Barczynski defeated Sudesh Teajman, 6-2, 6-2, but Botek lost to Joe Romano, 3-6, 4-6, and Velez lost to Tom Gaudette, 5-7, 4-6.

“It was very back and forth,” said Velez. “I got a game, he got a game. There were a lot of deuces as well. On a lot of the deuce points, I would hit it short and he would do really well angling his shots.

“The second set was 2-0, 2-2, 4-2, those kinds of scores. I feel like he struggled whenever I hit it deep to the baseline. What hurt me a lot was short shots where he could put those angles on.”

Botek and Barczynski teamed up at number one doubles but lost, 4-6, 6-0, 3-6.

This Thursday, the Hawks will host the Freedom Patriots before a road trip to Saucon Valley, Allen, and Easton to wrap up the regular season.