As the chill leaves the air, the end of the school year approaches, and for the seniors, the end of their high school career nears. The NC varsity tennis team celebrated their nine seniors March 21 during a match against Pebblebrook High School. With a team that resembled a family, the students honored their friends by bringing baskets filled with gifts and handmade posters that showed each person’s individuality.
For senior night, each senior chooses their position: singles or doubles. If the senior chooses doubles, then they can also choose their partner. This year, the girls team played three lines of doubles and one line of singles and the boys team played a regular lineup of three lines of singles and two lines of doubles.
Magnet senior Claire Shelton, who regularly plays line one doubles, chose to play singles and her partner, Gabby Larson, also a senior, chose to play doubles with magnet junior Sophia Lamb, who plays line two singles. Senior Amelia McCarthy, the token line three singles player, decided to join magnet junior Lena Gray, the line one singles player, in a doubles match as well. Magnet seniors Geianah Thomas and Livie Duby, who alternate at two doubles, claimed the last doubles match-up for the girls.
For the boys, seniors Zuhri Tann-Wilson and Carson Odam, at line one and two singles, decided to play doubles together along with senior Mason White and freshman Landen Pepiot, who both regularly change positions. For singles, magnet senior Jack Scafidi, a regular two-doubles player, subbed in for two singles.
Shelton won her match 6-4 7-5, leaving her with a joyous smile. The scores remained close throughout the entire match, but Shelton’s friends and family rallied with words of encouragement and support, which ultimately led to her victory. After the intense match, she celebrated her win by hugging her loved ones and joining her team for the traditional senior dinner.
Larson and Lamb won their match with a blowout 6-0 6-0. This proved the first victory of the day and encouraged their teammates to try their hardest and follow their lead. Their friendship shined on the court as they cracked jokes and smiled the entire time. After the win, the duo shared a memorable hug since this would act as their last match together for the rest of their high school careers.
McCarthy and Gray also contributed the senior victory with a score to match Larson and Lamb. The 6-0 6-0 win left a bittersweet taste as they realized the end of the season neared. Their short but memorable friendship will remain in their hearts forever and grant them fond memories to look back on in future years.
“I loved winning the Warrior Invitational this year. Although we’ve had our ups and downs, we all came together and were super supportive. It was so nice to see that we still loved and supported each other despite the hardships we’ve faced and I really hope that type of familial aspect stays in the years to come. Although tennis is a singular sport, team bonding is crucial and at the end of the day, we all play an important role on the team and need to recognize that and continue the support,” Thomas said.
Thomas and Duby also shared a memorable and rather intense match with an ending score of 6-4 6-2. The friends fought for their win and shined on the court with laughs, fancy struts and knock-out serves. Even though the other team discouraged them through questionable calls, Thomas and Duby’s perseverance ultimately granted them their deserved win.
“I love tennis because it brings my family together when they all watch me play. My dad and grandfather inspire me to keep playing in order to make them proud and happy. It keeps me in shape physically and mentally. Whenever I am stressed out, angry or sad, I go out and hit and leave it all out on the court,” Odam said.
Tann-Wilson and Odam finished their match with a score of 6-1 6-1. They won with ease and precision as each of them served smoothly and perfectly placed the ball. Their proactive attitudes on the court also lifted the team’s spirits and amped up the atmosphere. With such a delectable win, the boys’ team swung for success.
White and Pepiot played a nail-biting match that ended on a tie breaker with NC emerging victorious. The score, 4-6 6-2 10-4, reflected the determination that shined throughout the NC varsity tennis team.
Lastly, Scafidi won 6-4 6-3, leaving with a new friend. While the sport provides a healthy amount of competition, Scafidi showed true sportsmanship through his positive attitude and amiability toward his opponent. As a proper and proud representative of NC, he won in a landslide and ended his night with nothing but laughs and smiles.
Each of the seniors, unique in their own ways, will depart to their futures in the months to come. While they take on new journeys, these players will never forget where they started. The bonds formed in their high school tennis career will follow them forever, providing them support when they need it.
The Chant wishes them good luck on their future endeavors.
