The boys’ tennis season has come to a close. As singles play raged on in the final tournament at Jefferson Park, the Wakefield community was thinking deeply about the condition of their ill tennis coach. Coach William Warren was in his second year coaching when he became aware of a condition that rendered him unable to coordinate the team, and so now it was the players’ job to coach themselves in this unfortunate time.

Ishan and Tommy, the top two seeds on the team and representatives of Wakefield for the competition, used their coach as an inspiration. Each confronted with challenging roads to the title, they competed and did what they could in honor of their coach.

Ishan had the arduous task of facing Mark Prettyman, the top seed for the tournament and one of the elite players in the state. Ishan utilized a gameplan that meshed counterpunching with explosive offense, and it worked wonders to trouble the seasoned veteran. Ishan managed three games and a severed depletion of Prettyman’s patience, and his loss remains untarnished by the boldness he exhibited.

Tommy drew Matthew Phuong, a dangerous opponent from Edison High School. Tommy’s match was an equally hard fought battle, with both players striking the ball cleanly and through the court. It featured an interesting contrast of styles; Tommy’s groundstrokes penetrating the court with laser-like precision against Phuong’s serpentine versatility. At the end, there was slightly too much slice backhand and attack of the net for Tommy to overcome, and Phuong triumphed into the next round.

With these losses there is only more excitement for next year, as Ishan and co. will assume leadership responsibilities as team captains, and Tommy’s youth ensures the program will be in sustainable hands for the near future.

The team stayed strong in a year without much love on the court.