High expectations for the Malden High Girls’ Tennis team continue to grow as they finish their third consecutive season undefeated in the GBL league.
Over the past few years, the team, led by Coach Cheryl Camassa and which has mostly remained the same, grew closer. Junior captain Isabelle Tan highlighted Coach Camassa’s importance to the team: “Coach Cheryl Camassa is a great coach. Since she has a newborn baby, the team got to see her a lot and she became part of the team. I admire Coach for willingly dealing with a group of teenage girls as well as a newborn baby. Whenever I was nervous during a game, Coach and her daughter came over so Coach could give me a pep talk and her daughter could give me some good luck,” said Tan.
Other players believed that coach Camassa has significantly impacted the team’s overall performance, mentioning how “laid back” and “supportive” she is for them.
This year, the team was led by two captains: Junior Isabelle Tan and the only senior on the team, Chloe Chen. For Tan, Chen was a great mentor as a second-year captain for her to learn how to lead the team and ensure that they always performed their best. Tan noted that “as captain, I have a long way to go. Chloe Chen, my fellow co-captain, showed me the ropes as this is her second year as captain. I hope I can lead with as much confidence and elegance as Chloe did this year without her next year.”
With the team going undefeated for a third year now, Tan knows she has big shoes to fill for her senior year.
However, for junior Sarah Pham, it is not just about winning but returning every season for the community and culture of the team. “It is very laid back and everyone is so nice off the court, especially the other teams,” said Pham. “I’ve made so many friendships with people from other schools because of it and it makes me love coming back every spring.”
Pham also expressed immense appreciation for her teammates, saying, ’I’m lucky enough to get to play with people like Chloe, Julianna, and Isabelle who keep me on my toes! Playing with people who are so skilled kind of just encourages you to want to do better and I’m always open to learning from them and taking feedback.”
With another impressive year by the team with just one senior, the team looks forward to a bright future and even higher expectations. Lin, Tan, and Pham all look forward to yet another season of hard work and dedication all for what comes in the end, another GBL league title.
