OLD LYME — The Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS) girls’ tennis team is enjoying a truly remarkable season. Look at the scoresheets below and you will see that the girls not only remain undefeated, but also have hardly dropped an individual match this season.
Coach Lauren Rahr admits with complete honesty that this situation is something, “I don’t think I have fully wrapped my head around.”
Rahr, who is a math teacher at LOLHS, recalls that “Last year was truly a dream season with all we accomplished and how it all flowed together so well,” but notes, “This year has presented different challenges.”
Asked how she would summarize the team’s performance to date this season, Rahr responded, “From last season to this season, I have seen a lot of growth and maturity from all of my players.”
She said they had clearly put in a great deal of time in the off-season to continue improving their games, and as a result, “… came into this season with specific goals in mind that they want to accomplish both as individuals and as a team.”
She added, “Every match we go out and play, they continue to amaze me. There are always things we can continue to improve upon, but overall, they are determined players this year and it shows, not only in how they carry themselves but also in how they play each point.”
Expanding on how she feels when she is watching a match, Rahr said she finds herself thinking, “Wow, I am so lucky to have a team that is not only this strong, but this passionate about what they do.” She explained that this year she feels they are trusting themselves more, noting, “You can see them playing smart tennis on the court, while also taking the risk of applying new skills and strategies we have talked about.”
Rahr says Old Lyme’s toughest opponent so far this season has been Westbrook since, going into it, the girls knew they were going to be facing strong competition, which meant they were eagerly anticipating the match. The expectation was fulfilled with three out of the seven matches going to three sets, with, in Rahr’s words, “Each of them a battle. You could feel the energy on the sidelines just watching all of the matches finish.”
Recalling one of her favorite memories of the season was during the Westbrook match when the whole team was sitting at the fence watching the Old Lyme #3 finish her third set. Then, “As soon as she was done, they all sprinted down to the #3 doubles with their blankets and snack bags just in time for them to hit a volley winner to end the match.”
Rahr said, “It was nice to see them all support each other. It is moments like these that not only bring a team together, but remind everyone why they chose to play tennis.” She explained, “Playing better competition brings out the best in teams, and I was happy to see the girls step up to the challenge so early on in the season.”
Questioned as to the factors to which she credited the team’s amazing success, Rahr replied, “This is a tough question as I have thought about this often recently. There have been so many factors that have come together to contribute to our team’s success: the new courts, the passion of the girls, the support of families…just to name a few.”
She continued, “Many people have asked me, “Is it that you are a good coach or is it that they are just good players?” In her always humble fashion, she commented, “I like to think it is a little of both. We both work together to bring out the best in each other, and that has allowed us to reach our goals and create a team chemistry that I will truly never forget.”
Reviewing the season as a whole, Rahr concluded on an upbeat note, “Another thing I think that is really important is that we take each match as a new opportunity to play the sport we love.”
Here are the results of the most recent games with the LOL players indicated in blue.
Tuesday, May 3
Old Lyme Defeats Coginchaug 6-1
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Piper Remillard 2-6, 1-6
2nd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Estella Perel 6-0, 6-0
3rd Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Maggie Ross 6-1, 6-1
4th Singles:
Olivia Schaedler vs Grace Hinsch 6-2, 6-1
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Alexis Fenton
Nora O’Connell / Karenna Patel 6-0, 6-0
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt/ Beatrice Hunt
Monica Garbacz / Sawyer Stone 6-0, 6-0
3rd Doubles:
Fiona Hufford / Izzy Reynolds
Diya Patel / Taylor Cooney 6-0, 6-0
Saturday, April 30
Old Lyme Defeats Waterford 6-1
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Sarah Hage 2-6, 1-6
2nd Singles:
Sam Tan vs Autumn Brothers 4-6, 6-2, tiebreak for 3rd 12-10
3rd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Michelle Liu 6-0, 6-1
4th Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Ava Tinnerello 6-3, 6-1
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Alexis Fenton 6-0, 6-1
Maple Siu / Hazel Siu
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt / Beatrice Hunt 6-1, 6-0
Joyce McK / Lillian Steinhouse
3rd Doubles:
Fiona Hufford / Izzy Reynolds 3-6, 6-0
Maria Molina / Bre Kilcolmons tiebreaker for 3rd 13-11
Wednesday, April 27:
Old Lyme Defeats Morgan 7-0
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Abbie Vitola 6-1, 6-0
2nd Singles:
Sam Tan vs Molly Vitola 6-0, 6-0
3rd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Ana Colebank 6-0, 6-1
4th Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Riley Schmidt 6-0, 6-0
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Alexis Fenton 6-1, 6-0
Kyra Savage / Maggie O’Donnell
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt / Beatrice Hunt 6-1, 6-4
Ava Johnson / Ainsley Corgan
3rd Doubles:
Fiona Hufford / Izzy Reynolds 6-3, 6-3
Sara Morrissey / Gavin Gersz
Monday, April 25:
Old Lyme Defeats H-K 7-0
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Elanna Tousignant 6-0, 6-0
2nd Singles:
Sam Tan vs Kami Narducci 6-0, 6-0
3rd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Brenna Lonergan 6-0, 6-0
4th Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Jenna LeMontagne 6-0, 6-0
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Fiona Hufford 6-0, 6-0
Adrianne Wolf / Lauren Macy
2nd Doubles:
Olivia Schaedler / Eva D’Onofrio 6-1, 6-0
Maddie Gordon / Devon Haase
3rd Doubles:
Old Lyme wins by forfeit
Friday, April 22:
Old Lyme Defeats Portland 7-0
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Mia Lapinski 6-0, 6-0
2nd Singles:
Sam Tan vs Nat Przes 6-0, 6-0
3rd Singles:
Callie Bass vs Allison Scott 6-2, 6-3
4th Singles:
Olivia Schaedler vs Morganne Plneda 6-0, 6-0
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Fiona Hufford
Amella Hair / Isa McLelland 6-3, 6-0
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt/ Beatrice Hunt
Maddy Varano / Emily Dering 6-0, 6-1
3rd Doubles:
Elaina Morosky / Natalie Buckley
Joda Cohen / Anna Stone 6-0, 6-0
Monday, April 18
Old Lyme Defeats East Hampton 7-0
1st Singles:
Abby Sicuranza vs Liz MacDonald 6-0, 6-0
2nd Singles:
Sam Tan vs Eshani Karkun 6-1, 6-2
3rd Singles:
Elaina Morosky vs Charlotte Minnick 6-0, 6-0
4th Singles:
Callie Bass vs forfeit *forfeit*
1st Doubles:
Livie Bass / Fiona Hufford
Emma Giovanelli / Jen Trip 6-1, 6-0
2nd Doubles:
Aggie Hunt/ Beatrice Hunt
Melanie Hurt / Ginneg Decker 6-0, 6-0
3rd Doubles:
Olivia Schaedler / Karissa Huang
Addi Howard / Baylee Olzacki 6-0, 6-0