WIESBADEN, Germany — Vicenza’s Michael Gillett and Erik Findlay struggled with communication at the beginning of this season.

Used to playing mostly singles after finishing runner-up at the tennis championships last fall, Gillett moved over to the Cougars’ No. 1 doubles team. Findlay, meanwhile, was a timid newcomer. The combination created some awkwardness on the court.

The Cougars showed just how far they have come during Friday’s semifinal match against Ramstein’s Bernie Novak and Camren Carlson at the 2025 DODEA European tennis championships at the T2 Sports Health Club.

Gillett and Findlay won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) to punch their ticket into the final. The main difference: When things got tough down 4-1 in the second set, their chemistry came to forefront.

“Knowing that we can talk well, I think that’s what really brought us back,” Gillett said. “Throughout the season, we’ve gotten to know each other a lot better. We know we can play better because we know each other better.”

The win gave Vicenza three finalists — seniors Addie Wilson and Annika Svenson in girls doubles and Jacob McGovern in boys singles — for the first time in program history.

Findlay and McGovern also became two of six first-time finalists, along with Ramstein’s Brooke Vinson and Scarlett Hosey in girls doubles and Vilseck freshman Pennie Wolff and Stuttgart senior Bella Farias in girls singles.

Kaiserslautern senior Jace Martin, one of the few finals veterans who finished runner-up in 2023, denied that he had an advantage over McGovern.

“Absolutely not,” Martin said. “Nerves from a final are just nerves from a final. It never really goes away.”

And Hosey herself said those nerves are a good thing.

“Pressure means that it means something to us,” Hosey said. “It means it matters, and we’re here to win it and here to want it.”

Boys doubles

It’s not often that a Royal can accomplish something that’s never been done in program history.

Yet following Riccardo Averni’s and Giovanni La Piana d’Orlandi’s 6-1, 6-3 win over Kaiserslautern’s Conner Winnie and Tucker Meyer, the Marymount seniors put themselves one step away from the history books: No Royal doubles team has won multiple European titles.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity,” La Piana d’Orlandi said. “Our high school careers are a bit complete if we can win again.”

Not that their path to the finals was easy. Winnie and Meyer pushed Averni and La Piana d’Orlandi in the second set. At times, the Royals showed off their frustrations in the match.

That experience should help ahead of Saturday’s final.

“Getting to confront someone else is always useful,” Averni said. “Today, we played a lot of matches, so we were very tired at the end, but it definitely was a good test for (Saturday).”

Awaiting them are a pair they know well — Gillett and Findlay. The Cougars are the lowest seed (fourth) in any bracket to make a final, and they met in the final pool-play match on Friday.

The Royals won that one 8-0.

The Vicenza players say the result may come down to who can keep their emotions in check.

“They’re machines,” Findlay said of the Royal duo. “So, maybe we can break them down.”

Girls doubles

Vinson and Hosey first played together on a tennis court when Vinson was a freshman and Hosey was an eighth-grader.

Two years later, the junior and sophomore now are heading to DODEA-Europe’s highest stage after a 6-2, 6-2 win over SHAPE’s Olivia Penry and Elena Accetta.

“Freakin’ ecstatic,” Hosey said of advancing to the title match. “Having Brooke as my partner, I had no doubts that we were going to make it to the finals.”

While Vinson and Hosey will be championship-match rookies, their final opponents are anything but that.

Wilson and Svenson are headed to their third straight final with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Stuttgart’s Isa Suber and Ema Causevic. The Cougars lost their two previous title-match appearances.

“We’re think this can be the one,” Wilson said. “I think it’s going to be a good match.”

Saturday’s final pits the Nos. 1 and 2, and both pairs anticipate it being a tight one.

The Cougars praised the Royals’ net game as well as their use of top spin. The Ramstein duo, meanwhile, expressed their need to play their best to have a chance.

“We just need to iron out any unforced mistakes,” Vinson said. “Then, I think we can do it.”

Boys singles

McGovern had seen plenty of American Overseas School of Rome’s Thomas Curci this campaign, beating me twice during the regular season.

In their third meeting during Friday’s semifinal, the Cougar didn’t give the Falcon any chance to soar, winning 6-0, 6-1.

“I came in with some pretty good confidence, but I didn’t underestimate him. I knew he was a pretty good player,” McGovern said. “I just did my best, and I think I did great.”

Just like his finals opponent, Martin breezed past friend Jack Lovallo of Ansbach 6-1, 6-0. What made his match even more impressive: The Raider’s semifinal was the first to finish up on Friday afternoon.

“I was able to save a little energy for (Saturday),” Martin said. “”I’m going to have none, for sure.” Watching Jacob play, he’s a solid player, so it’s going to take a lot.”

The first and third seeds, Martin and McGovern haven’t played against each other, but they both complimented the other on Friday. They also both anticipate an intense contest.

“I’ve known from the past few years that he’s a very consistent, powerful player,” McGovern said. “So, definitely not underestimating him at all. It should be a good match.”

Girls singles

Farias found herself down by one game early in her semifinal bout with Rota’s Maya Mercado.

The Panther senior didn’t panic, though. She has experienced numerous slow starts on the courts.

Farias bounced back and roared past the Admiral 6-3, 6-2.

“I take a long time to warm up,” Farias said. “I’m slow in the beginning, but the second set, I’m completely fine.”

In the other semifinal, Wolff continued her domination of the girls singles field, sweeping Ramstein’s Gianna Tak 6-0, 6-0.

With that performance, the Falcon freshman still hasn’t dropped a game at Euros. Even when an opponent has come close to ending her streak, she has found a way to pull out a game.

“If I’m down 0-30 or something, I just try and make the next couple of points and win the game,” Wolff said. “I’m just trying to keep it at 0.”

Farias and Wolff met during the regular season, with the Falcon getting the better of the Panther.

Both competitors said that matchup won’t be weighing on their minds Saturday. Instead, they’re just going to play within themselves.

“I’m glad I made it just to the finals and I am where I am,” Farias said. “Honestly I’m just trying to have fun tomorrow, play my game and don’t give up.”

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