By Tyler Maheu, Staff Sportswriter
After a season full of ups and downs, the boys and girls of Woodstock’s tennis program are ready for the postseason.
For coach Derek Pierce and the girls team, this season was a resounding success on all fronts. In the win-loss department, the Wasps exceeded preseason expectations to finish 7-3, good enough for the number-two seed in the state tournament. “It was a very good season,” said Pierce.
Perhaps most importantly for the head coach was the invaluable experience his team gained throughout the year. “What was great this season was that I was able to carry 12 athletes on the team, when typically you only carry nine and an alternate,” he said. “What was nice about it was I was able to get everybody into multiple matches. It feels good that all these athletes were able to get some time on the court.”
The Wasps started the season 3-2 before ripping off four wins in five games to close strong. “We had a good run going into the end of the season,” said Pierce. “We were very strong in our first through fifth singles.” The singles players who led the team were: Mackenzie Graham, Jess Pierce, Chiara Winawer-Stein, Ava Zilain and her sister, Mia Zilain.
Beyond these top performers, Pierce had glowing things to say about his whole roster, especially his athletes who competed in doubles. According to Coach Pierce, Mataya Gibson and Jada Ruch showed great poise in their doubles matches, often competing against teams of lesser ability but keeping themselves motivated. Adele Danilchick and Maggie Knox were two of the team’s five first-time players who stepped in and played solid tennis, while veterans Caroline Adams and Katie Keown returned from last year and excelled in supporting the new athletes. Pierce also praised Addy Tucker’s ability to hit the court and perform well.
“The best thing about this team is that they all look out for each other,” he said on Monday. “We have 12 different personalities, but they get along well and are supportive of each other.”
All three of the team’s losses this year came against Burr & Burton Academy and Mount Anthony, two teams they will not have to worry about in the postseason as they play in Division I, while the Wasps compete in Division II. The team’s first-round matchup is against a foe they have toppled twice already, the Bellows Falls Terriers.
“Dave Chesley is the coach, a former AD. He’s a good guy working with a young team,” said Pierce when discussing Bellows Falls. “We’ve played well against them twice this year and beat them both times. So, we’ll see. Just going to take it one game at a time.” The Wasps took on the Terriers Wednesday night at home.
While the boys team did not have as much success in the win column this year, finishing 5-5, head coach Michael Malik can imagine a universe where the ball bounced their way instead of against them. “Unfortunately, in the second half of the season, we lost to most teams that we beat in the first due to a bunch of tiebreakers and close games,” he said. “We could’ve really come out 8-2.”
However, 5-5 is a good outcome compared to where this team started under Malik just two years ago. “Two years ago we were 1-9,” he said. “It was a really great showing by the kids to see them come through in three years and start winning.”
Several key players are leading the team into the Vermont Principals Association playoffs. Vasco Malik was a steady singles performer, while freshman Keller Murphy arrived on the scene ready to compete. “He’s our fifth singles player,” said Coach Malik. “He has a really steady game, which has gotten so much better this year. He finished with a winning record, which is crazy for a ninth grader. He is going to be a star in the next year or two.”
In doubles competition, seniors Finn Costello and Beck Welch stole the spotlight, finishing undefeated as a unit. “They’re athletic and fun to watch. Those guys have really been standouts,” he said.
This past weekend, Malik took six kids up north for an individual tournament for first and second doubles and singles against the state’s top competition. While none of the six Wasps came away with wins, they still made an impact. “Vasco won his first set against a strong Stowe player before losing the second set and the tiebreaker,” said Malik. “Murphy will be owning that tournament in two to three years. The other boys lost in the first round, but it was a good learning experience.”
The team improved this year by focusing on match play rather than drilling technique. “Our match play has gotten so much better,” he said. “They’ve learned confidence and better match strategy. You can’t teach that with drills.”
No matter what happens during their upcoming playoff run, Malik sees the program as being in a healthy place. He says that, two seasons ago, nine kids showed up for the team’s nine spots. At this year’s tryout, 23 student-athletes came to compete for the nine spots. “Our program is growing and getting competitive,” he said. “It’s great to see, especially as some of the schools we play their programs are dying. The kids are promoting it. Other kids are coming to matches and seeing that it’s fun.”
The team’s success could continue next year, as they will return all but one of their singles players despite losing most of this year’s doubles players.
Malik and his team still have this year to finish, though, as they began their playoff journey on Tuesday by hosting Champlain Valley Union.
