By Ken Chaisson
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
On a breezy afternoon, the Walpole Lady Timberwolves faced the formidable Natick Redhawks on April 9 at Walpole High School.
The initial scheduled match was cancelled due to April showers. Then the Natick bus didn’t show up until ten minutes after the scheduled match time. These only delayed the inevitable as Natick beat Walpole, 5-0.
Leo Ringler is in his first year as the Walpole girls’ head coach. Ringler is a Walpole High School tennis alum and new teacher at WHS. He’s very upbeat and positive about this year’s squad.
Walpole’s captains are seniors Anika Umapathy, Isabelle Healey and Eleni Margetis.
Second year captain and sole starting senior Margetis is the number one singles player for Walpole. She went 8-5 in singles last season and was named a Bay State Conference All-Star Honorable Mention.
Seven players compete in every team contest. There are 22 girls in the tennis program at Walpole. Natick has 19.
The team match format is five matches: three singles and two doubles. It is the best 2 out of 3 sets in each match. Each of the players acts as their own referee and scorekeeper. That’s something you wouldn’t see John McEnroe ever do !
In first singles, Margetis lost to Natick’s Grace Zhang, 6-0, 6-0. Zhang was a state finalist in the USTA Massachusetts High School Individual Singles Championship last season. That championship had a field of 68 entrants from private, public, and prep schools across the state. Zhang is a three-time Bay State Carey MVP and went 15-2 last year.
Walpole’s Anna Baker fell to Natick’s Ella Shuster at second singles, 6-0,6-0.
Ella Glover captured Walpole’s only games in singles falling at third singles, 6-1,6-1.
Isabelle Healey and Samantha White comprise the first doubles team. Laher Mehta and Swara Sonchhatra partner up for second doubles. The communication within Walpole’s doubles pairings was a bright spot.
This level of grit against a top-tier opponent like Natick serves as a vital litmus test for the young Timberwolves. The experience gained in these high-velocity matches is often the catalyst for a mid-season surge. The relentless competitive spirit displayed by the Walpole side was a bright spot throughout the day.
Success isn't just about the win-loss column; it’s about how you respond when you’re across the net from the best. As usual the Walpole female athletes responded with heart and determination.
Despite the lopsided nature of the match, the Lady Timberwolves maintained their composure. There were no dropped heads or surrendered points; instead, Walpole used the opportunity to test their defensive capabilities.
It’s on to the next challenge !
