Windham boys’ tennis back on the court

Windham Senior Hayden Bilodeau keeps his eye on the ball
while returning a serve during a boys' prep tennis match 
against Kennebunk on April 15 at Windham High School.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA 

By Matt Pascarella

In their first game of the spring season, with a crowd watching, Windham student athletes took the court for the first time in a long time to play Kennebunk on Thursday, April 15 at Windham High School. Kennebunk took this match 5-0, but it’s nice to see the Eagles back on the court playing this season.

Windham had high intensity during the game and its players were quick, focused and were playing with power behind their serves.

The match is broken into singles and doubles; with each match as the best of three games and the entire competition is best of five out of all the games played.

The singles matches featured Windham seniors Gabriel McPhail, Devon Harnden and Hayden Bilodeau. McPhail went 6-0 and 6-0. Harnden went 6-0 and 6-0. Bilodeau went 6-4 and 6-4.

“It’s been too long ... it is good to be back and have a season this year,” said Windham’s McPhail.

Even though McPhail didn’t win his matches, he said that he thought that he did well for his first match back in such a long time away from prep competition.

In the doubles matches, Windham juniors Will Searway and Sam Gurney went 6-0 and 6-0. Windham juniors Dakota Thompson and Connor McCarthy also went 6-0 and 6-0.

“We are very happy to be back on the court after missing a year due to the pandemic, said Windham tennis coach Garry Stone. “Our goal is to work hard, to improve and have fun. We are not taking anything for granted. We are just trying to be in the moment and enjoy playing the game we all love to play.” <