THE WARRIORS were excited to be on the court for their season-opening match against Lexington on March 31. Wakefield travels to Arlington today at 4:15 p.m. and hosts Woburn on Wednesday at 4 p.m. (Dan Pawlowski Photo)
By DAN PAWLOWSKI
WAKEFIELD — For those unaware, it’s a tough time to be a high school student.
Nobody knows that more than the teachers, guidance counselors and coaches who have worked tirelessly for two years to try and provide their students and athletes with a typical experience – a task bordering on the impossible for most of the last 23 months.
That’s why the anticipation for a spring sports season has never been higher.
It was evident amongst the Wakefield High girls’ tennis team as they warmed up for their first match of the 2022 season against Lexington on March 31 at the Dobbins Courts. The Warriors were happy to be out there — together. No masks, no social distancing, no uncertainties. Just tennis.
“Working on the front lines at the high school and seeing what these kids have been through the last two years with the pandemic, social isolation and not being a part of teams for so long, they are craving this socialization and to be a part of something,” said head coach Kathy Healey, a guidance counselor at Wakefield High.
In her 19th season at the helm, Healey has her biggest team ever: 31 players. That’s because the coach refused to make cuts.
“I just thought it was really important that we keep everybody this year,” said Healey.
Cuts are necessary evils in most sports. The reality is, there’s a limit to how many student athletes can play and even practice.
Coach Healey had 19 players return from last year’s varsity and JV teams. She also welcomed in 12 newcomers. Having helped so many students during the pandemic as an educator, Healey believed that all who wanted to be a part of the team should get that chance. Even if it means much more work for her and assistant coach Janice Necco who takes over this season for Healey’s father Bill Healey (WHS ‘47) who retired as an assistant at the age of 92.
Depending on how many players the opposing team has, Healey is prepared to let all 24 players on JV get their chance.
“I’ll keep playing them,” said the coach. “We will be here until 8 p.m. on match days if it takes that and means everyone can play.”
That extra work in order to provide each student athlete a chance to be a part of a team, will extend throughout a full season of 16 matches for the first times since 2019. Wakefield will play each Middlesex League Freedom Division opponent twice and each Liberty Division opponent (like Lexington) once.
The Warriors will be led by three senior captains: singles player Annie King and first doubles partners Panagiota Koutroubis and Haley Ogier.
“They’re wonderful leaders, all three of them,” says Healey about her captains. “They’re great kids, I’ve known them for four years now. The whole team is like that too, I’ve gotten to know everyone so well over the last two weeks – they’re all just wonderful kids; I can’t say enough great things about them.”
Wakefield is much more experienced than they were during last season’s shortened campaign. Five of the seven in the starting varsity lineup played varsity last year. Two are making the leap from JV.
Senior Megan Cohen played first singles against Lexington. King was second singles and junior Emma Fitzgerald played third singles. Junior Sydney Moon and sophomore Ariannah Tringale played second doubles.
The Warriors didn’t win a match against a Minutemen team that consistently resides at the top of the Middlesex League, but they know they can accomplish their goals.
“We want to make the state tournament,” said Healey. “We need to win half of our matches or more which I think we have a good shot at. I think we have a very strong team this year.”
Of course, success on the court is only one part of the equation.
The moments in high school sports that get remembered often occur outside of official competition. Those memories get made as a group, when you least expect them.
Whether it’s starting practice with mindfulness meditation to unplug from the stresses of the school day, learning self defense or practicing coach Healey’s patented “racket yoga,” the Warriors are encouraged to understand the bigger picture: Self esteem, confidence and group success are all things cultivated in sports and all things every student athlete could benefit from, especially during these times.
This season more than ever before, Wakefield is thrilled for the opportunity.
“They’re beyond excited and beyond happy to be a part of a team,” said Healey. “And that’s really important.”
