Season Preview: Deep, Talented Girls Tennis Team Begins Season On Wednesday
David Creed •
Luke Thornewill, Mark Gerardi, and Tina Haskins love the game of tennis, and it is reflected in the growth and current state of the girls tennis program. Thornewill is the team’s head coach and is entering his sixth season leading the program while Gerardi and Haskins serve as assistant head coaches. They have a balanced, athletic group of players to mix and match all year up and down the lineup, which should make this spring yet another successful year for the Thornewill's group
"I'm really excited about this team," Thornewill said. "Honestly, I think if they play smart, we are as good as last year. I think we're all really excited about the team as a whole. We got a solid nine whereas last year, maybe not quite that deep, but it was strong.”
Junior Viktoria Bozhkova will enter the season as one of the team’s top singles players. She has a couple years of varsity experience, and her work ethic and ability on the court has been noticeable to her coaches ever since she began playing at the varsity level.
Sara Dussault and Sutton LeBrecht should also play very important roles for the Whalers, as well as senior Gabby Nikolova, who has been putting in lots of extra work to strengthen her push for a top three singles spot.
"Gabby Nikolova could honestly come out of the woodwork," Thornewill said. "She's really, really determined. Evie Phelps as well. Evie and Gabby, last year they came on super strong at the end. I'm looking forward to seeing how they move forward this year. If not as singles players, then certainly they would be an extraordinary doubles team.”
The Whalers also have Presy Penkova, who has had a strong preseason and holding her own against her teammates. Thornewill said they have 18 players and have some young players developing in their program behind their strong senior class.
Nantucket will begin their season on the road against St. John Paul II on Wednesday, April 1st at 4 p.m. You can view the full Whaler schedule here.