BEN PALMER is one of three senior captains leading the way for Wakefield this season. Palmer is playing first singles for the Warriors. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — A new season has come to the Dobbins Courts for the Wakefield High boys’ tennis team – this time a full season, the first of its kind since 2019.
“The boys are extremely excited to be back on the courts and be a part of this Warrior team,” said head coach Cheryl Connors. “In 2020, we did not have a season due to the pandemic. Last year was a shorter season, only playing schools in our Freedom Division. The boys are excited to play the larger schools in the Liberty Division. This team is ready for the challenge.”
Leading the charge for that challenge are three senior captains: Matt Conley, Michael Leary and Ben Palmer.
“Wonderful captains and great role models for the younger players,” according to their coach, these three Warriors are leading the way for one of the bigger teams in recent memory.
There are 30 players in the program this season. In the addition to the 10 seniors, two juniors and two sophomores that return from last season, Wakefield welcomed 16 new players to the team this year.
“I do not make cuts,” said Connors. “Tennis is a lifetime sport. I believe whoever wants to play should have the opportunity. I have a very large team but I am fine with that. All the boys seem willing to learn and most importantly have fun.
“I have played competitive tennis for years and I hope my knowledge and love for the game will inspire these boys to play, enjoy tennis and become better players.”
Wakefield is off to a 1-2 start this season, all three of their matches coming against Liberty large opponents.
They dropped two against powerful Lexington (5-0) and Arlington (4-1) programs before picking up their first win of the season, 5-0 against Woburn on April 5.
Wakefield’s varsity lineup features Palmer at first singles, Conley at third singles and Leary teamed up with senior Kyle Russell at first doubles. Seniors Zachary Harter and Jack Morris play at second doubles.
At second singles is freshman Luke Greif, the only non-senior in the starting lineup. Greif picked up Wakefield’s only match win against Arlington, sweeping Yuta Kikuchi by a 6-0, 6-0 score. Greif also played the best match of the day against Lexington in the season-opener, taking three games from Aahan Mehra in the first set in a 6-3, 6-1 loss.
The entire lineup was victorious against the Tanners in their first win of the 2022 campaign.
Dodging some typical early-season rain that has led to a few postponements already, the Warriors are focusing on improving whenever the courts are dry.
“Practice. Practice. Practice,” said Connors when asked what the keys to success will be this year. “The more you play, the better you will become.”
“Conditioning is another factor. We are doing a lot of conditioning. The team should be able to go three sets and not run out of energy. We do a lot of ladder work, because tennis is a game of quick feet and quick hands. We also work on mental toughness.”
That training has led to plenty of exciting moments in recent years, most notably a 3-2 upset of No. 1 seed Somerville in 2019. It was Wakefield’s first tourney appearance since 2004 and their first victory since the ’90’s.
The current seniors were only freshmen back then, waiting their chance to get a postseason memory like that, only for the pandemic to alter it all.
This season, they will get their shot.
“Of course our ultimate goal is to make the State Tournament,” said Connors.
Playing in the new statewide tournament is a goal that Wakefield can accomplish only if they check the boxes of what Connors considers to be of even more importance.
“First of all, we want them to become better players,” said the coach. “Hopefully the boys will enjoy tennis so much that they will want to play year-round.”
Finally with a full season to work on and enjoy that love of the game, the Warriors are looking forward to it all.
Wakefield travels to meet Freedom foe Wilmington today at 4 p.m. in what should be a great test against a quality opponent in their division. The Wildcats went undefeated in the regular season last year.
“We are ready to play Wilmington,” said Connors. “We lost to them in the regular season last year but won against them in the Middlesex League Tournament. It was a great way to end the season.”
The Warriors then host Melrose at the Dobbins Courts tomorrow at 4 p.m.