Windham tennis teams earn end-of-season wins

By Matt Pascarella

Windham’s boys’ and girls’ tennis teams played their final home matches of the 2021 spring season against Deering and Cheverus earlier this week and both emerged with victories.

Windham senior Rebecca Hamel eyes the ball after
she took a powerful swing to send it over the net
during Windham's final girls' tennis home matches 
of the season against Cheverus on Tuesday, May 25.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

The boys played Deering on Monday, May 24 and gave a very strong effort to earn them a 5-0 win. The girls played challenging opponent Cheverus on Tuesday, May 25. They beat Cheverus when they played them at Cheverus earlier in the season and left everything on the court in Tuesday’s match to earn a very respectable 4-1 win.

Both events featured senior night activities for Windham. Emilia Antonya, Hayden Bilodeau, Baxter Chavonelle, Rebecca Hamel, Devon Harnden, Lukas Hradecky, Gavin Lombard, Gabriel McPhail, Chloe McVetty, Nicole Snow and Gianna Stevens were all presented with gifts to thank them and their families for the time and effort they had put in throughout their high school tennis careers. 

Boys

Seniors Lukas Hradecky, Gabriel McPhail and Devon Harnden all had high intensity on the court and won their singles matches. Hradecky won 6-1 and 6-3, McPhail won 6-0 and 6-0 and Harnden won 6-4 and 6-0. Bilodeau and Chavonelle along with Lombard and Windham junior Will Searway all won their doubles matches as Deering forfeited them.

Hradecky had already played against his opponent, so he knew what to expect. Hradecky thought the team had a really good collective year and he enjoyed playing several good matches against other teams.

“They did great,” said Windham coach Garry Stone. For Stone, playing Deering was good experience as the team approached the final match of the year against Cheverus (which Windham won).

“As the years (have) gone on everybody’s playing better; I’d say it’s a pretty successful season,” said Stone.

Girls

Cheverus and Windham were very equally paired during these intense matches. Windham knew what to expect and were nervous.

In the singles matches, Hamel won 6-4 and 7-5. Windham sophomore Grace Paiement won 7-6, 3-7, and 6-4. Windham freshman Alyssa Conley won 6-0 and 6-0.

“I feel really good,” said Snow. “I’m really happy that we won, it was challenging. It was very competitive. I think it’s been the best season this year.”

In the doubles matches McVetty and Snow won 6-3, 4-6 and 7-5. Windham Junior Lauren DeLuca and Stevens lost 6-2 and 6-3.

“A 4-1 win doesn’t really express how close each match was,” said Windham coach Katy Dresnok. “My players have just really improved leaps and bounds since the beginning of the season.” <