Tennis team falls in state tourney

Although the Winthrop High boys tennis team fell in the opening round of the state tournament to Bedford by a 5-0 score this past week, WHS coach Barbara Hoffmann said her squad had much to be proud of this past season.

“Bedford is a really strong team,” said Hoffmann. “I’m just really proud of my team for making it to the tournament in the first place; the coach from the Bedford told me that many of his players take lessons at a private club there, and that they already come to him as very strong tennis players.

“Many of our players only picked up a racquet with any seriousness on the first day of practice their freshman year, and have really honed their skills in a trial-by-fire/sink-or-swim kind of way,” Hoffmann added.

“My first year coaching six years ago we didn’t win a single match,” continued the coach, “and now we’re a team to contend with in the NEC. I hope the boys know how important their hard work and dedication have been, and how proud I am of them.”

Members of the team who competed against Bedford were Alex Hamilton at first singles, Brendan FitzPatrick at second singles, and Jake Rand at third singles. The doubles teams were Tyler Norris and Patrick Brogan at first doubles and Connor Brugman and Ryan McKinnon at second doubles.