JV Tennis Team Completes Season Despite Uncertain Start

By Diana Bilotta, Sports Editor

Although the new JV tennis team started the season without enough players to fill a full squad, by the end of the fall season it had a complete roster of freshman and sophomore players, with two competing in the NJISAA State Championships (B Division).

While the young and mostly inexperienced team wasn’t able to win any matches during its inaugural season, head coach Dana Lenneper complimented her players’ attitudes and determination.

Madeline Earle and Pallavi Kawatra prepare to return a serve in their doubles match at Long Branch High School on Oct. 20. Photo by Nicole LoRusso

Madeline E. and Pallavi K. prepare to return a serve in their doubles match at Long Branch High School on Oct. 20. Photo by Nicole LoRusso

“I love to coach them because they come everyday wanting to play,” she said. “At the beginning of our season I knew that we had some girls who were novice players, but the dedication and passion that they played with really showed throughout our entire season.”

For example, when the team faced Kent Place at CBA on Oct. 16, freshman Dorothea Wotton (first singles) kept playing despite getting injured during her match. “I got a little cut up,” she said with a smile, although both of her knees and some fingers were wrapped up in bandages.

Wotton eventually lost that match, and her teammates were also unable to notch any wins, but Lenneper felt the score didn’t justify the team’s skill. “Going against a team where some of the players are nationally ranked, I’d say it went very well.”

Wotton joined sophomore Lizzy Castellano to represent the Monarchs at the NJISAA State Championships on Oct. 19 at Wardlaw-Hartridge School. Although both girls lost their matches against their varsity opponents, they gained valuable experience that will benefit them and the team in upcoming year as the program continues to develop.

“You can see how zealous the players are about this sport with every forehand they hit, serve they ace or smile they have when they know they earned a point,” Lenneper said. “I think that the future of tennis at Trinity Hall is only going to improve throughout the years. With more experience will come more success.”