Girls Tennis Swings Into Winning Season
The team finished the regular season 6-3. Photo: Continental Studios
By DOUHA ELMENIAWY
After a year and a half under lockdown, girls varsity tennis followed through with a strong return this year. Competing against some of Brooklyn's most competitive schools, the Lady Hornets finished the season with a 6-3 record, good for second in the division behind Brooklyn Tech, before falling to James Madison 3-2 on October 22 in the first round of the playoffs.
While many of these girls have been playing tennis almost their whole lives, even the new players felt comfortable. “When I joined the team I didn't have much experience since I never had any lessons,” said Deborah Zeleny, a junior. “But they definitely helped me learn how to play to a point where I’m starting to feel a lot more confident.”
The players also found comfort in the small size of the team. “Our team has about 16 girls, and having a smaller team makes it feel more like family,” said Olivia Katsura ‘22, a 2nd doubles player.
“Sports teams at Midwood are a great way to make friends,” said Zeleny. “I feel like as a team we all got really close, and it’s what made these first few months of school really enjoyable.”
With Algebra II teacher Renee Goldfarb as their coach, the team entered their games feeling ready for action.
Anna Chapko ‘22, the team’s 1st singles player, warms up at Midwood Field. Photo: Continental Studios
“She prepares us well,” said Nathalie Camacho, a senior, 3rd singles player, and Argus staff member. “She organizes practice games that get us warmed up for the next team we will be playing, and she allows us to pitch our own ideas as well.”
This team couldn't have had the success they did without dedication. “We enjoyed playing practice games against each other to get used to what we were going to be seeing throughout the season,” said Camacho, who finished the season 6-3 in singles play.
One of the more important aspects of this team is the communication, the girls said, both with their coach and with each other.
“Ms. Goldfarb responds really quickly to us through email and Remind,” said Zeleny. “I messaged her pretty late one day and she still managed to respond.”
Katsura said, “My communication and relationship with my partner [Chloe Tse ‘23] is really good. Communication is key when playing doubles. During the beginning of the season it was a big adjustment, but my partner and I worked right through it.”
In the regular season, Tse and Katsura were 6-3 in doubles action. In an October 7 match against James Madison, the duo topped Maria Alefirenko and Kristina Nefediev 10-5, and then in a playoff rematch, they topped them again 10-1.
Freshman Sienna Veseli, who was 5-3 in the regular season, also won over Madison’s Alexis Goodman 10-2 on Oct 22. Still, Madison took the other three matches to move on.
Veseli said, “I learned how to work in a team and how to be more optimistic at our games. When we would win, we would all be very proud of ourselves, so it was the best feeling.”
“My team worked together well,” Veseli said, adding that her coach and older teammates helped her learn something important: “Never give up.”