Cardinals aiming high
Either Staples or Darien have reigned supreme in the FCIAC the past three seasons, with the Greenwich High School girls tennis team finishing close behind them.
This spring, the Cardinals are hoping to have the final say.
With an experienced singles lineup and plenty of players capable of filling doubles roles, Greenwich has the components in place to challenge for both the FCIAC and Class L tournament titles.
“The drive our players have is impressive,” GHS coach Betsy Underhill said. “We haven’t won this thing (FCIAC title) in a while and they are motivated to see if they can change that this year. We have been close the past several seasons.”
Indeed, Greenwich registered a sparkling record of 16-4 last season, losing to just two teams along the way — the afformentioned Darien and Staples. Eliminated in the semifinalround of the FCIAC Tournament, Greenwich dropped a 5-2 decision to the Blue Wave in the 2018 Class L tourney.
Greenwich last won the FCIAC championship in 2012 and after capturing the Class L title in 2009, lost in the state finals in 2010, 2012 and 2016.
So this season, the Cards are aiming to take the next step. Helping guide the team on their journey toward another highly successful season are senior captains Martine Fierro and Christina Gianesello.
Fierro posted a record of 13-3 last season, which saw her step into the top spot. She should once again, be a force atop the singles lineup.
“I really wanted to be a captain since my freshman year, so I’m excited that I got this opportunity and I think our team is going to do really well this year,” Fierro said. “Watching us practice, I could already tell we are doing really well.”
A member of the varsity
squad since her freshman year, Fierro has steadily risen up through the rankings.
“It’s been really fun, because my freshman year I was three and my sophomore year I was at the two spot and my junior year played at No. 1,” Fierro said. “It’s been really great to work through all the positions, because it teaches you so much. Every position is really different and you grow to respect each one.”
Gianesello successfully filled roles at third and fourth singles a year ago and should be one of the team’s top-seeded players.
“I started out the season at No. 4, then I was at three the majority of the season,” Gianesello said. “Going into the third spot was such a jump from four. It jumped me to the next level and prepared me for the intensity that was to come.”
Like her coach and teammates, Gianesello sees great potential in the Cards.
“I want us to be state champs,” Gianesello said. “We have always been so close, we are always top three and I think we can win this year, since we have a lot of top players and good newcomers we are a lot stronger.”
Said Underhill: “I feel like our depth is strong and we’ll be right up there with the best teams.”
WHO’S GONE?: Captains Melanie Murphy and Tess Lamhaouar each graduated. Murphy was an effective doubles player, while Lamhaouar provided quality singles depth. Hannah Crasto, also a successful doubles player, also graduated.
THIS SEASON’S ROSTER
Fierro has been a mainstay in the singles lineup and Gianesello switched from doubles to singles in 2018. Joining the team is sophomore Natalie Williams,
who may take over the second singles role. Juniors Kendall Schrohe and Yui Inagawa are each vying for singes positions. Schrohe was a key contributor in doubles competition last spring.
Junior Melanie Leguizamon, who was a standout at second singles last season and advanced to the third round of the State Open, is rehabilitating a wrist injury and may join the squad at some point of the season.
“We have a good, strong singles lineup and a lot of doubles players,” Underhill said. “There is a lot of depth there.”
Junior Hannah Viney and sophomore Abby Shropshire have doubles experience, after aiding the team in that area last season and junior Amy Bickham should also lend her talents in doubles competition. Senior Catherine Daye is back after being injured last season and Rachel Karetsky (junior), Ellie Viney (freshman) and
Courtney Sheets (freshman) are first-year varsity players.
PRIMED FOR CHALLENGES
The Cardinals are eager to face each conference rival and prove they’re among the elite in the league and state.
“There’s definitely a bunch of really tough teams out there in the FCIAC and I’m really excited to see how we do this year,” Fierro said. “I’m excited to play the tough teams. Our big goal is to have a nice match with Darien and Staples. Every year we are close to being up there.”
Added Gianesello: “Competing in the FCIAC definitely brings out the best in everyone. We are all pushed to the limit and we all want to win so bad. Everyone plays their best when they are under pressure and no one is willing to give up.”