As the McLean boys tennis team took on the Wakefield Warriors on March 19, the team looked to play well and prove themselves early on in the season.
“This is a good opportunity for the team because it allows them to gel and get their practice in,” assistant coach Sean Callahan said.
The team dominated throughout, winning all five out of six of its singles matches and two of its three doubles matches, even without prospective two-seed junior Karan Singh.
“I was encouraged and impressed by our performance,” Callahan said. “All of our guys played really well and we looked focused, which I was looking forward to.”
Even though Wakefield isn’t known for being the most competitive team in the district, the Highlanders still looked to hone their skills with the match.
“The biggest thing for improvement is reps,” Callahan said. “Tennis is like anything: the more you do it, the better you are at it, and this will help us a lot heading into future competitions.”
The Highlanders, only in the third week of their season, are already looking towards districts and, ultimately, states.
“It’s our goal and we’re going to have to grind for it,” junior Colin Trinh said. “Our team has the work ethic to get to that peak, and I’m really looking forward to our success as a group.”
Despite the clear optimism, the team suffered a major loss in the offseason. Last year's top seeded player, junior Noah Jewelewicz, decided not to play for the team this year, leaving a glaring hole in the roster.
“Noah’s a great player and his presence will be missed,” Callahan said. “However, our team is filled with talent, and I think that our guys can step up and make that spot theirs.”
It is difficult to determine the Highlanders’ prospects so early in the season. Players are still competing for spots and nothing is set in stone. However, the team is confident in their abilities, an essential part of any winning team.
“All of our guys feel that they can play their best on any given day,” Trinh said. “We’re going to be dangerous going forwards.”
