WP tennis coaches pleased with performance this year

By Lisa Capitelli Managing Editor

(May 19, 2023) The Worcester Prep tennis teams’ season wrapped up with Eastern Shore Independent Athletic Conference competition.

The girls’ participated in a singleelimination tournament with Gunston, Salisbury Christian, Salisbury School and host Saints Peter and Paul, in Easton on Monday. The tournament was originally scheduled to take place two days earlier but it was postponed due to rain.

“The tournament was a tough one for us. None of our players got past the semifinals unfortunately, so we ended up in third place,” said Prep Coach Kevin Chalk.

“We just didn’t perform the way we had during the season.”

Junior captain Natasha Richter earned an 8-3 victory in the first round. She lost her semifinals match, 1-8.

Junior captain Lebby Becker won her first-round match 8-0, then lost in the semifinals, 3-8.

Sophomores Savannah Palmisano and Angie Todorov took their firstround doubles match, 8-0. They fell in the semifinals, 3-8.

Sophomores Lydia Schwartz and Abby Ament shut out their first doubles opponents, 8-0. They lost in the semifinals in a tiebreaker set, 2-7.

“Our second doubles match was incredibly close,” Chalk said.

Becker, Richter, Palmisano and Todorov received All-Conference honors for reaching the semifinals.

The Mallards had a successful season overall.

“This season was awesome. Definitely a busy one, but we ended with a 12-3 win-loss record, and many of those wins were close calls, so the girls earned them,” Chalk said.

“Every player on the team made improvements in her game, so that was incredibly rewarding as well.”

The team will only graduate one player – Meeta Agarwal.

“She played No. 2 doubles in some of our matches, so next year we’ll have to find someone who can step into her shoes, especially regarding net play,” Chalk said. “I think the team will maintain most of its strength because we’re only losing one senior. We will have a large number of seniors next year though, so the year after next there will certainly be some changes to the composition of the team.”

The only two ESIAC schools with boys’ tennis teams this season were Worcester Prep and Gunston, so they went head-to-head for the championship title.

Gunston won four matches to Worcester’s three, and took home the team title in Centreville, on May 5.

“It was a close match. Last time it was 1-6, so we competed at a much higher level,” said Prep Coach Terry Underkoffler. “I thought they played some of their best matches. We improved quite a bit from where we started. We ended the season playing our best, which is what you want.”

Prep sophomore captain Aleksey Klimins scored an 8-4 victory at first singles and earned his second consecutive ESIAC Player of the Year Award.

“He improved his level from the