Girls Tennis season came to a close with their final game against Columbia High School on Monday, October 26. Bernards lost 3-2 in that game and finished with a record of 12-8. Senior partners Raissa Rojas and Christiane Krimmel took over second doubles and had a close match with the score of 5-6, 4-6. The match was also Senior Day for the team. The varsity team consists of 10 seniors as well as two underclassmen. On senior day, the seniors were presented with flowers and poster when they arrived at the courts for their final match. Senior Paige Paladini said, “I have really enjoyed this last season with my team and am sad that it has come to an end so quickly.”
This year remained consistent in the fact that five of the ten seniors played on Varsity last year, including Katharine Apt who has been first singles all four years of her high school career. Apt strives to continue playing tennis in whichever college she will attend next year. Also, first doubles team Julia Paladini and Tegan Warren remained a strong pair for the second year in a year.
Unlike the past three years with Ms. Clark as the varsity coach, this year the girls welcomed Coach Tarulli from Bedminster School. Tarulli was assistant coach at Somerville for many years but this was her first time being head coach. She proved herself to be a strong coach, leading the team to the semi-finals of the state sectionals.
As well as Coach Tarulli, Mr. Brothers held his first tennis coaching position for junior varsity. Although he is used to coaching boys lacrosse, Brothers was a great tennis coach to the JV girls. He said, “I really enjoyed coaching this team and we had a great season.”
Varsity and junior varsity will conclude their season with a team banquet dinner being held on Friday, November 13 at the Black Horse Pub in Mendham. The night has been predominantly organized by Julia and Paige Paladinis mother, Pam Nardone. This is the first year to ever that it will be held here, as it usually takes place at the Basking Ridge Country Club. The evening will include a slideshow of pictures, dinner, senior gift giving and a speech from the coach. Everyone looks forward to the night because it gives the girls a chance to reflect on the season and thank the coach for all her hard work and commitment to the team.
