As the spring season is starting to come into full swing, the Delbarton varsity tennis team is looking to take center court with a formidable group of players. There is a mixture of experienced leadership and a few new faces looking to make waves this year.
The returning players this year are a solid group and offer consistency and skill, adding depth to the team. In total, the varsity tennis team has 7 returning players, including singles player Adi Somaiya, who is aiming to repeat his strong former record, while the ten new faces are looking to make their mark this year.
The team captains for this year are Alex Choi, Hugh Weldon, and Chase Eagan. They set the example both inside and outside of the court and lead their younger peers with their experience and hard work. Their role is crucial on the team because they give stability during intense matches and also ignite chemistry between team members. On the other hand, newer members bring enthusiasm and determination into practice sessions and matches. They motivate their older peers and push the team to their limits.
The singles is dominated by the underclassmen, Aaron Paul, Aiden Paul, and Adi Somaiya, while the doubles is taken care of by the seniors and team captains along with the Summit transfer Haydn Lee. Beyond the starting lineup, every player brings energy and support, cheering teammates on and stepping up whenever given a chance to compete. Their presence alone can determine the outcome of tight matches or tough situations and this was exemplified in the pre-season scrimmages. In a battle against Winston Churchill, one of the top teams in Maryland, Roshan Sekhar and Ryan Moumdijan carried the team through a decisive match while the entire team supported them. Against Sidwell Friends, the fifth ranked team in the nation, Adi Somaiya became the determining factor, with teammates cheering him on every point of the match.
As the spring season kicks into gear, Delbarton is setting their goals high this season with a very deep roster. They are looking to win the counties tournament and Episcopal doubles tournament and after a current 12-0 season and winning the Bryan Bennett tournament. This first stretch of the season could be an indication of what is to come and this tennis team has the depth, leadership, and belief to become one of the best varsity tennis teams ever.