Published June 10, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — Girls’ tennis head coach Craig Stone said the Pioneers’ four seniors should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments.
The four seniors on the girls’ tennis team are captains Gillian Skelley and Anna Schmidt as well as Caitlin Murray and Claire Yang.
“They have all been members of the team since their freshman year,” said Stone. “It should be noted that Anna was elected a co-captain by her peers even without playing in a varsity match.”
Stone said Skelley and Schmidt “have been positive role models for their entire career.”
“Although they have taken different paths to get to this point, they have always put the team first,” said Stone. “They have shown great concern and attention to the accomplishments of their teammates.”
Stone said Skelley was a three-year varsity letter winner who earned a number of accolades.
“Gillian was a spot starter as a freshman, and a two-year starter as a sophomore and a junior at first doubles,” said Stone. “Gillian was 30-6 in team match play, and had an individual tournament record of 7-2. Gillian was a two-year Cape Ann League All-League first doubles player, whose partner both years was Emma Gallucci. They also won the CAL First Doubles Tournament in 2018. We were rained out in 2019. Gillian and Emma were also North Sectional Doubles quarterfinalists in 2018. Gillian also received the team’s Outstanding Achievement Award in 2018 and 2019.”
Stone said Yang, who was also a three-year varsity letter winner, served as a spot starter during her freshman year before being named a permanent starter.
“Claire was a starter at second doubles her sophomore year, and was a starter at third singles her junior year,” said Stone. “Claire was 20-13 in team match play, and had an individual tournament record of 4-2. Claire partnered with Makayla Maffeo in 2018 and won the CAL Second Doubles Tournament.”
Stone said Schmidt and Murray competed on the JV team during their first three years of high school. He said Schmidt had a 36-6 JV match record while Murray had a 34-4 record.
“Both were brought up to the varsity team at the end of their junior seasons at tournament time, but they did not get into varsity play,” said Stone. “They would have seen their first varsity action this year.”
After learning that the season was canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 virus pandemic, Stone said he was “very disappointed for the players, especially the seniors.”
“As a coach, you look forward to the accomplishments of the team each new season, and the individual success of each player,” said Stone. “Players would have had the opportunity to assume new roles and responsibilities, memories would have been made and bonds would have been formed. The latter is just as important as the former.”
Stone said the Pioneers had a 49-11 record over the past three years the seniors took the court. He said all four seniors played “an important role in carrying on a tradition of excellence and success that the Lynnfield girls’ tennis team has achieved for many years.”
“They should find tremendous satisfaction in those accomplishments,” said Stone. “Hopefully, this experience also reinforces the importance of taking advantage of any opportunity in life, whenever it presents itself, and make the best out of it as you never know when the next one will come along. I am sure each of them will find success in their next journey, and I hope the values that they learned on and off the court will help to achieve them.”
When asked if the Pioneers have any plans to play a scrimmage or an alumni game later this year, Stone said “not at this time.”
“However, when restrictions are lifted, we will see what opportunities we might be able to create,” he said.
Stone noted this year marked the first time the Pioneers have not competed in the state tournament since 1982.
“We have been in the state tournament for the past 37 years,” said Stone. “This would have been my 40th season coaching the girls’ tennis team.”