They’re Perfect! — Girls’ Tennis Team, Unbeaten In SWC, Wins Title

By Andy Hutchison

MIDDLEBURY — Newtown High School’s girls’ tennis team capped off an unbeaten run through the South-West Conference with a 4-1 triumph over Joel Barlow of Redding in the SWC championship match at Middlebury Racquet Club on Monday afternoon.

The match, originally scheduled to be hosted by top-seeded Newtown, was moved indoors because of rain. The proverbial sun was shining on the Nighthawks, however, as they earned the victory over No. 2 Barlow to improve to 13-0 in conference play this spring.

Newtown got wins in the top three singles spots and at first doubles. Two doubles matches were in progress but did not need to be completed once the outcome of the match became official with Newtown’s fourth win.

“Unbelievable — these girls are unbelievable,” said nine-year NHS Coach Maureen Maher, who already had one SWC title under her belt but said this season is especially special. “This is the best team I’ve ever had — hands down. There’s more talent than I’ve ever had.”

The Nighthawks, who don’t have a senior on the roster, have been led by a freshman at first singles. Their top singles player, Carline Kelly, who lost only one match all season long, defeated Barlow’s Paige Twombly 6-4, 6-1 in the pinnacle match on Monday.

At second singles, Lauren Frazzetta beat Samantha Goldburg, 7-6, 6-4; and at third singles, Mia Terracino also won a two-setter with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over Ali Kudej.

Barlow’s No. 4 singles player, Megan Jordan, picked up a 6-0, 7-5 win over Newtown’s Alyssa Ruefenacht.

In doubles play, Newtown’s top tandem of Julia Frattaroli and Stephanie Roman defeated Arduaba Nacibicgue and Alyssa Lyon 6-1, 6-3. Newtown’s second doubles team of Maggie Kost and Annie Beier, and the third doubles team of Meghan Logan and Aimee Alexander did not need to complete their matches.

Newtown advanced to the finals of the four-team tourney with a win over visiting and fourth-seeded Lauralton Hall of Milford, at Treadwell Park, in the semifinals on May 17. In their win over Lauralton, Kelly prevailed in two sets. Frazzetta was pushed to three sets by Paige Palmero, but came out on top, 6-3, 6-7, 6-4. Terracino took care of business in her two-setter in the third spot. In doubles play, all of Newtown’s players were victorious.

In the championship match, with her team playing inside for the first time all season long — partitions between courts, visible through a large window from a centralized elevated room, and accessible via a set of stairs — Maher had to run back and forth, and up and down those steps to access her players to offer pointers and words of encouragement. The unusual setup certainly didn’t phase the Hawks. Perhaps, in part, because it wasn’t exactly unfamiliar.

“They take lessons here, they play here — they’re comfortable here,” Maher explained.

In addition to being a strong team, Newtown also had an ingredient that the coach believes was key to its success: Camaraderie. “They’re all very close, which makes it very nice,” she said.

“Everybody’s worked really hard. We hope to continue with this momentum into [the SWC individual tourney and state tournament],” said Grace Winans, who has been sidelined this spring since being diagnosed with Lyme Disease after tryouts, but continued to support her teammates throughout the campaign.

Going in to SWC individual tournament, which was slated to be held Wednesday and Thursday (after The Bee went to press), Kelly, Frazzetta, and Terracino were all seeded first for first through third singles. Roman and Frattaroli at top doubles, and Logan and Alexander at third doubles, also earned third seeds. The second doubles tandem of Kost and Beier earned the second seed.