CAMBRIDGE – Several people asked Hamilton-Wenham girls tennis head coach Joe Maher in the preseason if the program – which turned over a significant portion of its roster – would be going for a fourth straight title. He wouldn’t even answer it because of the pressure that comes with it.
Pressure didn’t seem to bother the fourth-seeded Generals much at all Sunday afternoon at MIT’s DuPont Tennis Courts, though, securing a rare four-peat with a 5-0 win over No. 6 Manchester Essex in the Div. 4 state final.
Every match but No. 1 doubles was won in straight sets, overpowering a talented Hornets group that needed to shuffle its lineup because of an injury to their top singles player.
“I really give the girls tremendous credit,” Maher said. “The ones who were on JV last year really worked hard to get their games to a position they are now, and all season long, they were focused. They supported each other, it’s been a great team atmosphere and really special. … (Manchester Essex) still battled, and we had to stay focused.”
Much of the Hamilton-Wenham team elevated into bigger roles after playing junior varsity, or not at all, last year. Senior captains Naomi Provost (No. 1 singles) and Olivia Romans (No. 1 doubles) were the only returning varsity players in their fourth and third respective years, helping lead the way.
Provost defeated sophomore Sarah Cort (6-1, 6-3), while Romans paired with sophomore Evelyn Esdaile to defeat seniors Nina Zalosh and Libby Lawler (6-1, 3-6, 10-6).
“It’s amazing,” Romans said. “Every year I’ve been on the tennis team is just incredible and such an amazing, rare experience. And I’m so grateful for the whole team, the whole experience. … I’m so proud of everyone and I’m so glad we got to do this together, as friends and as teammates.”
“It’s not even winning, it’s just our whole team aspect,” added Provost. “This year, there was a lot of new players, but we were still able to get to the farthest point we could and win it all. … We’re always a team and we’re always together, and I think that’s one of the main reasons we always push through.”
Provost helped deliver all four state titles, which are the only four in the girls tennis program’s history.
“When Naomi Provost came to the school, she’s been the lynchpin,” Maher said. “She just ended today with 82 wins and two losses … and those two losses were in matches when the match was over and they had to play in one of those goofy, 10-point tiebreakers.
“I would love to know the statistics (on) anyone else in the state that has won four state titles as an athlete because I think she’s one of the few.”
Junior Emily McIntosh, who switched from doubles and soared in the second half of the year, defeated junior Grace Scarbrough (6-3, 6-0) in No. 2 singles. Freshman Charlotte Ireland won No. 3 singles (6-0, 6-1) over Tess Carpenter. Junior Gabriella Jewitt and sophomore Sofie Greene defeated senior Ella Arntsen and freshman Maeve McArdle in No. 2 doubles (6-0, 6-2) in their best match of the year.
