With a record of 6-5, the Norwin Boys Tennis team headed through their season fast and are in the team playoffs. The Knights finished third in their Section (see pic below in gallery) this season, demonstrating their success as a team as they qualified for the WPIAL playoffs for the fourth year in a row.
Star players this season were number one singles player junior Max Snyder and number two singles player senior Cole Kubistek, the only senior on the team. The team had lost six seniors last year, but it was made up for through motivated freshmen, such as freshmen Jaxson Momeyer and Daniel Metzger, who are the number two doubles players this season. The team chemistry is at an all-time high this year, with players from each grade contributing to the team.
“There’s a lot more freshman this season, which creates a lot more opportunities for new players,” Snyder said. “Therefore, there’s more connections made and relationships built.”
This is the first season with the team being led by head coach Rob Vilage, following in the footsteps of Mrs. Wendy Johnson. Even with changes this season, such as a new coach and new players, the team is still as motivated as ever.
In the WPIAL Singles Section One tournament, Snyder got to the second round, winning 10-7 to a Hempfield athlete. He unfortunately then lost 10-0 to a Gateway player, ending his WPIAL run for Singles. Kubistek went against a tough Franklin Regional opponent and lost 10-0.
In the WPIAL Doubles Section One tournament, Snyder and Kubistek won 10-2 against a Connellsville team in the first round, advancing them to the second round. They ended up falling short against a tough Franklin Regional doubles team with a score of 10-0.
“I think we all hate losing, so our dislike of losing drives us to do all we can to be successful and win,” Coach Vilage said. “One thing our players do is never give up. That’s what I love about them.”
The Norwin Boys Tennis team will be competing in the WPIAL Team Playoffs starting Tuesday, April 30.
“To be honest, I just love playing the game,” freshman Michael Barone, number three singles player said. “It’s a load of fun and I don’t think I’ll ever get over it. It’s also something you can play for your whole life, and I just love that about it. Not to mention, the sport has a generally smaller community, so you get to know people from all over the place and recognize them for next time you play them.”
Caleb Henderson • Apr 29, 2024 at 9:35 am
I hope these tennis boys go see Challengers