Sophomore Emma Heinmiller (Photo courtesy Emma Heinmiller)

By Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporter

Emma Heinmiller isn’t just a high scoring sophomore, she’s a “coach on the field” for the Law girls lacrosse team. 

As for many athletes, the transition from freshman to sophomore year is simply about getting more playing time. For Heinmiller, it’s been about evolving as a leader on the team. She has combined her work ethic with natural ability to lift those around her. 

Heinmiller’s journey hasn’t been without its hurdles, however. Like many who pick up lacrosse, she found the technical pieces of the sport to be her biggest test. 

Heinmiller identifies cradling as her toughest challenge, specifically maintaining control while being pressured by defenders. 

What sets Heinmiller apart isn’t just her physicality skill, but her mental approach to the game. 

“Emma possesses a “lacrosse IQ” that allows her to think two moves ahead of her competition,” Head Coach Ms. Oliver said.

More importantly, Heinmiller remains incredibly coachable. 

“The cool thing about Emma is that she is always asking questions about how to get better,” Oliver said. “Her humility and willingness to grow, whether in practice or mid-game, set a good example for young athletes.” 

Junior Maddie Nash said Heinmiller’s presence provides a level of stability that is rare for a sophomore. 

“Having her out there makes everything flow better,” Nash said. “I know I can trust her to do her job, communicate, and make smart decisions.”

Nash emphasized that Heinmiller stands out because of her confidence and consistency. 

“She is the type of player who changes the game the moment she steps on the field,” Nash said.

While her stats and IQ speak for themselves, Heinmiller’s impact is felt most deeply by the program’s newest members. 

Freshman Brynne Maida credited Heinmiller with helping her find her footing in a high-pressure environment. 

Heinmiller’s goals extend beyond her own box score. As she looks toward her junior and senior years, her focus is on the growth of the program. 

“I want to get more girls to join, not just to join, but because they want to play the sport,” Heinmiller said. 

For incoming freshmen who might be nervous for tryouts, Heinmiller offered simple, grounded advice. 

“Just play your game and don’t worry about dropping a pass or messing up,” Heinmiller said. “Put in full effort without the fear of failure.”

Junior Cora Aitkenhead (Photo courtesy Heather O’Connell)

By Emma Bonanno – Staff Reporter 

Law sophomore Cora Aitkenhead has started out the 2026 girls tennis season strong. 

Aitkenhead has a 11–0 record so far at #4 singles, consistently winning her matches with confidence. She sets the tone for her team and proves herself as one of the top competitors early in the season.

“My season so far has not only been going very well as far as scores, but has been an absolute blast,” Aitkenhead said. “I’ve really enjoyed improving and playing singles, and I think this season I have become really close with some new friends and even closer with old ones.” 

Akeinhead’s impact goes beyond her undefeated record, as her leadership and character have also stood out. Head coach Mr. Kulenych praised Aitkenhead’s dedication and presence on and off the court. 

“Cora is everything a coach wants in a player – she is a leader, she works hard every day to get better, and she is relentless when she gets on the court,” Kulenych said. “Off the court, she is an amazing teammate, always rooting for and supporting the other players and giving the younger players someone to look up to.”

Aitkenhead has clear goals for herself as the season continues, focusing not just on winning but on improving her overall game.

“My goals for this season are to improve my technique and perfect my placement, while also becoming more consistent and playing well no matter the varying level of my opponents,” Aitkenhead said. “By perfecting things like my placement and ground strokes I’ll have more control over my opponents allowing me to win matches more easily.”

Aitkenhead’s impact has also been recognized by her teammates. Junior Courtney Russo has seen how important Aitkenhead has been to the team’s success this season.

“This season, Cora has been a huge asset on the singles line up,” Russo said “There have been times where Cora has secured the win for the team which is so needed, and Cora’s insane record this season truly shows the kind of player she is.”

As the season continues, Aitkenhead looks to build on her record, refine her game even further, and remain a key leader both on and off the court for her team.

“I think my biggest challenge was adapting to the switch from singles to doubles,” Aitkenhead said. “Playing varsity doubles as a freshman was a great place for me to start and get to know the sport as it was my first year playing tennis. I knew that I would be a singles player eventually, but when I got thrown up to singles at the start of this season it was a whole different ball game of running, more strategy, and self-dependence, but I’ve adjusted well. I’ll be honest, the running from my soccer season has definitely translated to the tennis courts.” 

Junior Captain Aiden Ramos (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Eason Dong – Staff Reporter

Jonathan Law Junior Captain Aiden Ramos has emerged this season as of the best players in the state.

Ramos has been playing baseball since five years old and is the catcher for Law. He has been one of the best and most dependable players for the Lawmen.

“You know exactly what you’re going to get from him every day,” Assistant Baseball Coach Mr. McPartland said. “Effort, focus, a team-first mindset, and someone that is going to hold his teammates accountable.”

Ramos’ goal for this season is to improve his game as much as possible and be the best role model for underclassmen.

“My goals for this season are to improve in every aspect of my game and to be a good role model to underclassmen,” Ramos said.

Ramos tries to help the underclassmen improve as baseball players and as people. 

“He treats every teammate with respect and treats them like a good human being,” Freshman Gavin Leclaire said, “He is always ready to win no matter what and he tries his hardest to put the team before anything.”

Ramos has impacted this program drastically this season. He is one of the many reasons why Law has won big games over teams like Westhill and East Haven.

“Early on, he was more reserved, but over time he’s become more comfortable taking ownership of his role and impacting the game and our baseball program in bigger ways,” McPartland said.

Recently, Ramos announced his commitment to play Division I baseball at the University of Maine.

“I chose the University of Maine because I truly felt at home at the campus and around the coaching staff, along with the high level of baseball that they compete at throughout the year, and I want to become a part of that,” Ramos said.

Ramos is one of the hardest-working players on the team, always striving for improvement.

“He always works hard,” senior Nick Comas said.

Ramos makes baseball fun not just for himself, but for teammates by always bringing a positive attitude every day.

“Aiden brings a great energy to the team by showing up every day being positive while he helps push us to our best,” freshman Gabe Roberto said.

One piece of advice that Ramos would give to young baseball players would be to go to the gym.

“Hit the weight room,” Ramos said. “You might not realize it, but baseball is and extremely physical game, especially at the college level.”

Sophomore Anwita Puttam (Photo courtesy Heather O’Connell)

By Breana Aquino – Staff Reporter

This season marks the second of sophomore Anwita Puttam’s career as a player for the Law girls tennis team.

Puttam has been playing tennis for approximately six years, with both influences from her father and the team.

She joined the team last year as a freshman, gaining experience playing junior varsity matches the entirety of the season. Now as a sophomore in the current season, Puttam has been the recipient of broadening her skillset due to more challenging opponents the team was set to face.

“This season has been absolutely great,” Puttam said. “Since we’ve moved up a division, we’ve played a lot of harder teams, but we’ve been doing really well.”

However, this season was different for Puttam personally. She was able to bag her first varsity win while playing doubles with Senior Captain Siya Patil during a match against Lyman Hall.

Patil expressed how playing the match with Puttam was unpredictable, yet prevailed in the end.

“We had never really gotten many reps together during practice, so I was a little unsure about the outcome,” Patil said. “But we quickly adapted to each other’s skill levels, which helped us win our match.”

This feat in Puttam’s career was not only her first varsity win but also the first varsity match she has ever played for the team.

“Since I never played varsity before, and it was really last minute, I was kind of stressed,” Puttam said. “But we ended up winning in the end.”

Patil characterized Puttam to be a person with motivation.

“She is always ready to play, whether it’s stepping up to a spot in the lineup or cheering on for the team,” Patil said. “As a player, she is very focused during her matches and always perseveres through tough points.”

Puttam believes that she has made an abundance of improvement from the year prior to the ongoing one.

“Last year specifically, I didn’t have as much match experience, but I slowly got more used to them,” Puttam said. “I also improved my serve a lot with some help from (Coach) K.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych commended Puttam for the progress she has made from last season to the latest.

“Anwita got some valuable match experience at JV last season and came back a more consistent and powerful player,” Kulenych said. “She has helped us in varsity matches already, and I am excited to see how she continues to develop and improve the rest of the year.”

Puttam expressed how she hopes to continue her tennis journey with the same effort.

“I just hope to keep improving my game as I continue playing through high school,” Puttam said. “I want to also get closer and more involved with my team.”

The Law softball team is off to a strong start this season. (Photo courtesy @lawsoftball)

By Yeiden Nieves and Connor Ryan – Sports Editors

The Law softball team has started the season off strong with a 6-2 record.

They have secured victories thus far over East Haven, North Haven, Branford, Wilbur Cross, Guilford, and Lyman Hall. The Lawmen finished with a 13-7 record last season and lost to St. Joseph’s in the second round of the Class L playoffs.

“We all felt the same way last year after our playoff loss and we don’t wanna feel like that ever again,” senior catcher Sophia Scarpa said. “We worked hard in the offseason to ensure we have a better season this year.”

This year, the team consists of three senior captains: Emily Roos, Charlotte Doyle, and Emily Bassett. They believe they can get the team to work together have a successful year.

“It all starts with us leading by example and having a good attitude,” Doyle said. “That helps us captains keep the team focused which in the end helps us win more games.”

The team consists of many underclassmen who contribute much to the team. Sophomore shortstop Gabby Rodriguez is looking forward to this season.

“Last year we had a good season but not a perfect one,” Rodriguez said. “Going into my second year I’m looking forward to improving personally as a player and improving as a unit overall.”

The Lawmen worked extremely hard during the offseason to prepare the team physically and mentally for this upcoming season.

“We have been practicing a lot through the winter to get ourselves prepared for the season,” Bassett said. “Mentally we have been doing team bonding once a month to build a team culture and our team dynamic which has helped us a lot.”

Head Coach Mrs. Blude has emphasized Law’s depth at every position. The team is confident in every position, from starters to backups.

“We have good pitchers which helps us see how the girls handle live pitching during practice,” Blude said. “We played in a ton of scrimmages to help evaluate how much ground were covering, what mistakes are being made, and to see how well were hitting as well.”

The team is very excited to see how this season will play out and hopes to make an SCC and State Tournament appearance.

“My biggest goal this year is to make it further in the SCC Tournament and the State Tournament,” junior pitcher Maddy Bonanno said.

Senior Captain David Lickteig (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Adrian Vitale & Matthew Sanchez – Advocate Editors

Senior Captain David Lickteig is approaching his final season on the Jonathan Law track team.

Lickteig has been running mid distance since freshman year, with his best event being the 800M 

“David Lickteig has been a great inspiration for me as an underclassman,” sophomore Erik Borowski said. “He’s always kind and helpful. I hope he has a great last season and that he enjoys his last year at Law.” 

Teammates said Lickteig benefits the track team greatly with his positive attitude. 

“I think It’s really cool to be a captain,” Licktieg said. “It’s much different than what I’m used to because I’ve only captained smaller teams like cross country, indoor track, and eSports.”

This year, the Law track teams have a combined 170 members, making the role of captain an even more important position.

“We have the responsibility of being the voice of our team,” Lickteig said. “With our team being as massive as it is, Coach Beler needs us to express the general feelings of everyone.”

Lickteig helps to motivate the team as much as he can.

“David is a great leader, he’s a guy who leads by example,” junior Matthew Montini said. “He’s always putting in all of his effort which supports and motivates the team.”

Lickteig has set many personal goals for this spring – on and off the track.

“My personal goal for this season is to make states and get a sub two-minute 800M run,” Lickteig said. “But my goal as a captain is to make sure that our team is prepared enough to succeed next year when I’m gone.”

Senior Captain Avery Moulton (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Dani Kotansky and Cora Aitkenhead – News Editors 

The Jonathan Law girls track team is ready to start their spring outdoor season. 

Led by captains Avery Moulton, Alani Velez, Molly Croce, and Charlotte Baldieri, the group is ready to compete and excel this season. 

“I’m looking forward to the meets and meeting new faces,” Moulton said. “ I can’t wait to help some of the freshmen and PR in my own events!”

Junior Taylor Mola is working hard to enrich underclassmen’s understanding of different track events, specifically pole vaulting. 

“With pole vault I really try to be one on one with kids so I can give them my full attention,” Mola said. “I like to try and go slow so they can understand what I’m saying than also give them a visual so they know what they are doing.”

Head coach Ms. Corriveau fosters a positive environment as a leader where athletes can rely on each other to improve and challenge one another to be their best. 

“For the most part, the coaching staff empowers our captains and upperclassmen to help create a sense of community by taking underclassmen under their wing to give advice, warm up with, or to help show them the ropes,” Corriveau said. “We also spend quite a bit of time offering several weeks of conditioning before the season starts to get our newer athletes off to a great start.”

Sophomore Abbi Leydon is ready to improve and work hard this season.

“I am looking forward to being outside with my friends and learning new events and just having fun,” Leydon said. “I can’t wait to push myself and be better, and I can’t wait to hopefully win.” 

The captains are ready to make an impact on younger athletes this season. 

“I work with underclassmen a lot by helping them with workouts, teaching them the proper form to have when running, and being a captain they can look up to and not be afraid to ask questions to,” Moulton said. 

Overall, the team has a bright future ahead of them, led by coaches and captains who care. 

“I’m hoping that students will strive to see continuous improvement over the course of the season and have some fun along the way,” Corriveau said.

The Law boys tennis team recently began its spring season. (Photo courtesy @jlhsboystennis)

By Courtney Russo – Social Media Editor-in-Chief

The Jonathan Law boys’ tennis team enters the spring season with a lot of new faces.

Whether it’s a new coach, players, or opponents, the team is fired up and ready to start the season strong. 

At the end of last season, the team was left with a giant question of who will be their coach for the 2026 season. With a lot of searching, Jonathan Law history teacher Mr. Zuraw offered to step up to the plate.

“The first couple of weeks of tryouts and practices have been great,” Zuraw said. “I am lucky to have a very experienced group, along with some newer guys willing to learn.”

The captains this season are seniors Siddarth Dash, Surya Gautham, Santiago Panegos, and Parth Gokhale. As a captain, Gautham has been working with the new members of the team to help them feel welcome.

“I’ve been trying to prepare the new players by spending extra time with them after practice to teach them basic technique,” Gautham said. “I’ve been helping them with the basics like serving and groundstrokes.”

From early Saturday morning practices to putting in the extra work after scheduled practice, the team has put in the work early in the season.

“We’ve been working on all of our skills and improving as a team to make sure we are putting in our best efforts,” junior Ryan Berendt said. “We scrimmaged the girls’ team to prepare ourselves for our first match.” 

The team’s key players consist of singles players Dash, Gokhale, and Berendt, and doubles players Gautham and junior Dylan Maselli.

“We try to create team chemistry through shared communication,” Gokhale said. “We also use comprehensive planning.”

Senior Captain Emily Bassett (Photo courtesy Emily Bassett)

By Molly Lynch and Ava Grippo – News Editors

The Law softball team recently opened its spring season after weeks of preparation.

One of the key members of the team this season is senior captain and outfielder Emily Bassett. Bassett said she excited to bond with her teammates on and off the field this year.

“I’m looking forward to getting closer with my team – bus rides, pasta parties, and team bonding events,” Bassett said. “It’s always a good time.”

Being a captain comes with many responsibilities and is a great opportunity to gain leadership skills. Bassett explained what being a captain means to her.

“To me, being a captain is being someone who my teammates can turn to on and off the field, and setting the tone for the team with my attitude, body language, effort given, and treating everyone with respect and kindness,” Bassett said. 

The team has spent a lot of time together in the off-season to prepare for the upcoming season.

“We have been working hard in the off-season to get us ready for the season to start, not only on our skills but to create a solid team culture that will reflect on our performance on the field,” Bassett said. “We’ve been meeting once a month since the summer discussing the importance of being a teammate and filling your role on the team. We are working on being the strongest team we can be.”

Having team goals is a good way for all of the players to have something to work towards throughout the season. 

“Some goals our team has for the season are to work to be better every practice than the one before and work together as one unit to be successful this spring,” Bassett said. “We are also hoping to make it far in the SCC tournament as well as the state tournament.”

Bassett said being a good teammate can have a major impact on the team’s overall performance.  

“Being a good teammate definitely has a positive impact on the team’s overall performance – knowing that your teammates are there to back you up and celebrate all of the good with you and lift you up through the bad helps us play more relaxed, which helps us perform better,” Bassett said. “We are all pretty close, so being able to be surrounded by your closest friends helps us enjoy the game and play stress-free while still bringing the intensity and competitiveness to win games.”

Junior Captain Aiden Ramos (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Emma Bonanno and Kendall Upchurch – Staff Reporters

As the spring air begins to settle over the diamond, there is a sense of urgency and brotherhood surrounding the Jonathan Law baseball team. 

The Lawmen will be led by their four captains – seniors Marcus Townes, Brady O’Neil, and Aidan Rascati, and junior Aiden Ramos.

“The obvious goal is to win States,” O’Neil said.  “This is our last year playing together, with a lot of us being really close friends since elementary school, so we all want to go out with a bang.” 

For the team’s upperclassmen, the focus is on leaving a lasting legacy. 

“The biggest thing I’ve learned is to not only lead with my words, but to lead with my actions,” O’Neil said. “Not everyone is going to listen to you, or take you seriously 100% of the time, so reinforcing those statements with physical demonstrations during practice or games will make people more inclined to follow in my footsteps.” 

Sophomore Connor Ryan said he feels confident heading into the new season. 

“It feels good to be out of the ‘freshman phase,’” Ryan said. “The biggest lesson I learned is that a spot on the team isn’t just going to be handed to you and you actually are going to have to work for it.”

Freshman Cole Veteri has set several goals for the season.

“(My goals are) to improve individual skills and succeed in working together as a team to make the playoffs,” Veteri said. 

Veteri is a proud to be a part of the team and is looking to make an immediate contribution. 

“To put on the jersey for the first time was very rewarding and an unforgettable experience,” Veteri said. “It is a moment that will always stick with me throughout my high school career.” 

Whether it’s the underclassmen or the seniors who have been teammates since childhood, the chemistry is growing with the team. 

“Our team culture has changed because we have so many first-year Varsity players and ninth graders on the roster,” Head Coach Mr. Simler said. “Our veteran players have embraced this and are helping create a culture of working hard everyday to get better.”

The goals for this spring are clear: improve individual skills and put the team in a position to make States. 

“We have a fun group this year with a shot to do something by the time playoffs come,” O’Neil said.  

The Law track team recently kicked off its 2026 spring season. (Photo courtesy yearbookavenue.com)

By Abigail Merenda – Sports Editor 

The Jonathan Law boys outdoor track is gearing up for the 2026 season.

The head coach of the track team is Mr. Beler. Key athletes for the boys team include senior David Lickteig (400M, 800M, 4x400M, 4x800M), senior David Guery (long jump, triple jump), junior Jeremiah Dos Santos (4x100M, 100M, 200M), senior Jack Lefevre (javelin, shot put, discus) and senior Kelden Silvester (110 hurdles).

Silvester said he has multiple goals for this season.  

“My goals for this upcoming season are overall to have fun but also to represent our team and school to the best of our ability,” Silvester said. “I would also like to make States and maybe even Nationals if I can get the right times this season. I expect our team to put in the work to succeed and to push ourselves everyday. Other than that, I just hope we have a good season as a team with no injuries and that we push ourselves as far as possible to improve.” 

David Guery said his expectation is for the team to pick up right where they left off last season and continue their success. 

“Our expectations for this season are to hopefully pick up right where we left off last year,” Guery said. “We look like we have a lot of potential talent, and hopefully this year we will be able to win States and make it to State Opens.”

Lickteig has set both personal goals and team goals to lead his team effectively.

“My personal goal for this season is to make States and get a sub two-minute 800M,” Lickteig said. “But my goal as a captain is to make sure that our team is prepared enough to succeed next year when I’m gone.”

Junior Captain Logan Mullarkey said he has high goals for himself and his team. 

“My goals for this track season are to improve my times and help my team succeed, especially in the 4×100 relay,” Mullarkey said. “I want our relay to be strong, clean with handoffs, and compete at a high level with the goal of winning States. I expect to stay consistent, keep getting better each meet, and do whatever it takes to contribute to a championship-level team.” 

The Milford Mariners advanced to the State semifinals this season. (Photo courtesy Nathan Krauss)

By Logan Thomas and Dylan Gaillard – Advocate Editors

The Milford Mariners hockey team recently wrapped up its 2025-26 season with a run to the State Tournament semifinals.

The Mariners finished the regular season with a 12-8 record and earned the #6 seed in the Division III playoffs.

“I think the season went very well, we competed through every game and were all invested in it,” sophomore Nathan Krauss said. “Our teamwork and communication improved a lot throughout the season. We supported each other through it all, and that’s what made us a better team.” 

The Mariners had many big wins late in the seasn, including their first-round playoff game against #3 seed Masuk.

“Overall, the seasons went well, even though we faced some challenges and tough losses,” sophomore Colton Perry said. “We improved as a team and showed resilience by continuing to work hard and stay positive.”

Many Mariners believe they have improved a lot just through this season and through the hard games they played. 

“Despite challenges, we showed resilience and growth, making it a successful season,” sophomore Robert Vercellone said. “I personally improved my skills and confidence through consistent effort, becoming a more effective teammate.”

This offseason, the Mariners are going to work very hard to try to get back to where they went this season and further. 

“In the offseason, we are going to train a lot and condition together,” Krauss said. “We are all going to work on the weak parts of our game and try to become the best players we can be.”

During this season, there were many memorable moments.

“(The best moment) was when we beat Masuk in the quarter finals to go to the Q (the State semifinals at Quinnipiac),” Perry said. “Everyone thought that Masuk was going to win because of their captain, but we shut him down and capitalized on our chances, taking a 5-1 win over them.”

The Jonathan Law golf team recently opened its spring season. (Photo courtesy Dylan Gaillard)

By Henry Smith and Sebastian Beltran – Advocate Editors

The Jonathan Law golf team is entering the season with high expectations, aiming to make a push for States while continuing to grow as a young and developing team.

“My goal for the season is to improve my players skill level, play competitive golf, win the Mayor’s Cup, and make the State Tournament,” Head Coach Mr. Maurutis said.

With a roster full of young players, the team is focused not only on success this season but also on building for the future.

“Our goals this year are to make a push for states and to help the team get set up well for the future since it’s a very young team,” Senior Captain Cooper Pietrowski said. “We have a lot of potential and want to help our young guys grow to be great golfers in the near future.”

The team’s strong core and overall chemistry are expected to play a major role in their development and performance.

“Some strengths we have on our team is that we have a great core group of guys and we all have the ability to be great golfers,” Pietrowski said. ”Our team as a whole has so much potential for the future as well.”

Players are also emphasizing the importance of mindset, especially in a sport like golf where focus is key.

“One part of my game that I’m the most confident in is how if I hit a bad shot I can snap out of it and not fall apart,” sophomore Dylan Gaillard said. “I think your mindset is the biggest thing is golf because once you get down on yourself you won’t be able to hit good shots and score well.”

Players are also looking forward to both the competitive and personal aspects of the season.

“My goals are to make states and to have a lot of fun this year with the team and make a lot of memories,” junior Tyler Stankevich said.

Individually, players are confident in specific parts of their game that will help the team succeed.

“Something in my game that I am confident with is my ability to get off the tee box in a comfortable position,” Pietrowski said. “I’m confident in my ability to put the ball in the fairway and give myself a great look for my setup into the next shot.”

Maurutis emphasized the value of effort and improvement throughout the season.

“I enjoy being out there with the team and seeing them improve throughout the season,” Maurutis said. “It is rewarding to see my players put in the work and when all aspects of the game start to click, we have the ability to play some really great golf.”

As the season begins, the team remains focused on steady improvement and reaching its full potential.

Senior Captain Harshitha Kothapalli (Photo courtesy Heather O’Connell)

By Delaney Morrin – Staff Reporter

The Law girls tennis team has been working tirelessly for their upcoming spring season.

After an extremely successful season in 2025, the team is working even harder to break records and achieve its goals for 2026. Last year, the team finished with the second-most regular-season wins in school history with 14 and qualified for the SCC and State tournaments.

This year’s team will be led by senior captains Kayla Markowitz, Harshitha Kothapalli, and Siya Patil.

“To me, being captain is not only being able to lead my team on the courts, but also being a positive example for younger players, and a supportive friend who will always lend a helping hand.” Markowitz said, “As captain, the most important thing is that everyone feels like they are an important asset to the team, because I truly believe that every single player contributes so much in a unique way.”

Head Coach Mr. Kulenych said the team has already showcased hard work, dedication, teamwork, and resilience in early-season practices.

“We have so much potential on this year’s team,” Kulenych said. “Everyone on the team embraces the day-to-day grind, pulls for one another, and competes hard no matter the opponent. We have a lot of experience returning at the top of the lineup and a group of young players that will make an impact for years to come.”

Aside from the three senior captains, key contributors to the varsity team this year will be seniors Rose O’Connell and Layla Alogna, junior Courtney Russo, and sophomores Cora Aitkenhead, Isla McKeand, Emma Ciccarelli, and Vanessa Messina.

The upperclassmen on the team have taken leadership in helping the underclassmen feel confident and improve their skills. 

“We encourage and motivate the underclassmen by building their skills, mentoring them on technique, and, most importantly, organizing team-bonding activities so everyone feels welcome and included,” Patil said.

According to Kothapalli, the team is extremely committed and excited for this upcoming season. 

“We went into last season not knowing what our record was going to look like, but we worked twice as hard, and left the season with a record-breaking team,” Kothapalli said. “This season we have a challenging schedule ahead of us, but I know that these girls are more than motivated to constantly be better versions of themselves on and off the court.”

This year’s team has already created strong relationships with one another. Returning players have been a key factor in helping underclassmen who are experiencing their first season on the team.

“So far, my experience on the tennis team has been awesome,” freshman Olivia Armstrong said, “Everybody has been so welcoming and very sweet. My teammates have helped me improve by telling me skills that I could work on to help me become a better tennis player.”