By Gemard Guery – News & Editorial Editor

Lucia Pino and Sophie Maselli are the senior captains of the Jonathan Law girls tennis team. Advocate Editorial and News Editor Gemard Guery interviewed about Pino and Maselli about the upcoming spring season.

Gemard Guery: What are you looking forward to most this season?

Lucia Pino: I am looking forward to seeing how we do as a team this season as we have a slightly different line up than last year. I am excited to see how we work together to achieve as many wins as possible. 

Sophie Maselli: This season, I am looking forward to continuing our title as “Champs,” and getting far in the States and SCC tournament. As this year is my last, I’m really hoping for an amazing season, and I’m positive that we will! I’m also really looking forward to having a “normal” season, with no masks and maybe a few trips to restaurants after a big win. I can’t wait to watch our team thrive on the courts this season!

GG: Why do you like playing tennis?

LP: I like playing tennis because it has always been a passion of mine since I was young. I like it even more in high school because I get to experience the team aspect of the sport. 

SM: I’ve been playing tennis since I was 10 years old, and it’s always been my favorite sport. I like only having to worry about me, my doubles partner, and our two opponents. The simplicity of this is a large reason why I love playing tennis. Watching this team grow these past two seasons has really been extraordinary, and I can’t wait to see how far we advance this year!

GG: What is the best part of being part of the team?

LP: I think the best part of being on the team is being able to create a bond with all my teammates so we can work hard and help each other achieve our goals. 

SM: Other than being renowned “Champs,” the best part of being part of the team is the team itself. We are truly like a family and everyone is so passionate about the sport, so there’s a lot of really good energy. Even though we are all super dedicated to tennis, we always have fun, even after the harder matches.

GG: How has tennis impacted you and your high school career?

LP: Tennis has had a very big impact on my high school career as it takes up a huge portion of my time. I have to continue to put in work to the sport constantly as well as supporting my teammates with whatever they may need. 

SM: Tennis has greatly impacted me during my high school career. Tennis really encouraged me to stay athletic and it even led me to getting my first job as a tennis coach/camp counselor! Before high school, I never really liked sports and had never been part of a tennis team, and playing on the Girls Tennis team here at Law has really shown me that I can enjoy playing sports, and playing tennis competitively. I have really had a blast these past four years, and I will truly miss tennis after our last match in May or June.

GG: Why should someone play girls tennis at Jonathan Law? What do you enjoy most about it?

LP: I think someone should play girls tennis at Law because the team is made up of a great group of welcoming people. Law tennis is very open to players with any kind of experience and I believe it is a great sport to get into. I enjoy tennis here at Law because everyone on the team is super supportive and we all work together to win. 

SM: Girls tennis at Jonathan Law is truly an amazing team, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything. We have the best coach and the best teammates, so I would truly encourage anyone to pick up the sport to try out in the future!