Mediocre performances by the mainstream male teams like basketball, football and lacrosse have yet to taste the consistent sweet victories that the underrated boys tennis team has devoured as they clinched the division title with a 5-0 record.
The team started off the season strong, shutting out their first two opponents, Springbrook HS and Northwood HS by a score of 7-0. In game three, however, the team’s score was reversed with Wootton HS, losing by a score of 7-0. This did not keep them in a rut as they came back to beat the following seven teams.
The boys triumphed against the then undefeated Damascus Hornets 5-2 April 25 to secure their first division title since 2008.
The average person would credit head coach Frank Weaver for consistently running drills with the boys in order to develop muscle memory for success. Weaver, however, has a different approach to success. The daily two-hour practices consist of basic scrimmages amongst the players.
“The boys are very competitive; everyone is competing for spots on the team so we do matches all the time in order to see who is the best,” Weaver said.
Despite being a young team with seven underclassmen out of the 16 players, the team’s energy and desire to win is fueled by these new contributors.
“Having matches helps our competitive spirit since the practice matches determine who gets to play; similarly, how the game matches determine who wins,” freshman doubles player Xander Langsam said.
The RHS tennis program has evolved from a 2-9 record in the Spring of 2013 to a 9-1 record at the time of publication. The young players, being the base of the future tennis program, are expected to carry this season’s momentum into the following years as the program says goodbye to eight seniors.
“The past four years of being a part of the tennis program has shaped who I am. If you work hard enough, you can achieve anything you want,” senior singles player Andre Sturniolo said. He committed to the University of Maryland Eastern Shore to play DI tennis next year.
Sturniolo has improved greatly since his freshman year when he began playing tennis at RHS as an unexperienced player. He has now gone on to become one of the top singles players on the team.
The regular season ended Monday May 2 at Quince Orchard HS, and players who qualify will continue on to individual playoffs.