MELROSE — Despite a rocky opening to the 2025 season, the Wakefield boys’ tennis team is off to a start marked by resilience and adaptability.
With two of their first four matches postponed due to inclement weather and other challenges, the Warriors have had limited opportunities to hit the court. Still, they’re making the most of every match, and learning fast.
The season kicked off on April 2 with a tough road match against Arlington. Senior captain Luke Greif started his final year in dominant form, picking up a decisive win at first singles, 6-0, 6-1.
“We always start the season against a strong Liberty Division team,” said head coach Cheryl Connors. “I know Luke has been working hard in the offseason and it really showed in the Arlington match.”
After two postponed matches last week, on Friday the Warriors squared off against longtime rival Melrose in a dramatic, back-and-forth match that came down to the final court. Illness led to a shuffled lineup, forcing several players into new positions. Trevor Veilleux stepped in at first singles, Kevin DeGray moved up to second and Owen Kelley transitioned from first doubles to third singles. Despite the changes, Wakefield came ready to compete.
DeGray and Kelley both earned straight-set wins, 6-1, 6-2 and 6-3, 6-3 respectively, helping Wakefield gain early momentum.
“As a senior, it feels great to contribute however I can,” said DeGray, a team captain. “We all had to step up today, and I think that brought out our best. The energy was there from the start.”
Coach Connors echoed the sentiment.
“I’m so proud of Trevor, Kevin and Owen. It’s never easy to move up a position, and they all rose to the challenge. Trevor played one of the top players in the Freedom Division and battled hard. Kevin and Owen just came in hungry. They played offensively and dictated most of the points. Owen’s serve was on and Kevin constructed some beautiful points.”
At second doubles, Liam Kelley made his varsity debut, pairing with returning junior Connor Sliski. The duo had a slow start, dropping the first set but rallied to win the second. In a tight third set, they ultimately fell short.
“This match could have gone either way,” said Connors. “Liam stepped up for his first varsity match and both players gained valuable match experience. With more time and focus on minimizing unforced errors, they have the potential to convert close matches into wins.”
With the match tied 2-2, it all came down to first doubles, where Kip King and Ahmed Othman faced off against a strong Melrose pair with an aggressive net presence and big serves. After dropping the first set 4-6, King and Othman shifted strategy, opting for more down-the-line shots and lobs.
“They played incredibly smart tennis,” said Connors. “They adjusted and stayed composed, especially under pressure.”
That pressure peaked in the second set when the Wakefield duo fought off four match points before winning the set tiebreaker to win the set 7-6. With daylight fading and the clock nearing 7 p.m., both teams agreed to play a 10-point tiebreaker instead of a full third set. Wakefield fell behind 0-4 but stayed calm and clawed back to win 10-6, securing the Warriors’ first victory of the season in dramatic fashion.
“I’m really proud of the way we fought, especially Kip and Ahmed. To fight off four match points and still find a way to win is incredible,” said DeGray.
“We knew we had what it took to win,” said Othman.
“We just had to stay focused and support each other,” King added. “We fought hard and never gave up. We showed real determination and resilience.”
The Warriors moved to 2-1 with a 5-0 sweep over Stoneham last night at the Dobbins Courts.
In what ended up being the home opener for the team, Wakefield left no doubts for another key, league victory as they improved to 2-0 against fellow Freedom Division opponents.
Greif returned to the lineup against the Spartans and earned a 6-0, 6-0 victory at first singles.
At second singles, Veilleux won, 6-2, 6-4.
DeGray cruised at third singles, 6-0, 6-1.
King and Othman won at first doubles, 6-2, 6-0.
Sliski and Gus Sanni were victorious at second doubles, 6-0, 6-1.
Up next, Wakefield will host Burlington (3-2) tomorrow, 4:15 p.m. at the Dobbins Courts. The Red Devils are also 2-0 in the Freedom with wins over Watertown and Melrose. Burlington beat Wakefield twice last season.