The Belmont High School tennis teams capped strong regular seasons earlier this week, and each garnered enough momentum in the MIAA Division I Power Rankings to open the postseason at home.
With brackets released Friday, both will host Round of 32 matches at the familiar Winn Brook Elementary School tennis courts this weekend. The girls (11-7) picked up the No. 9 seed and will face No. 24 Chelmsford (13-4). The boys (12-6), seeded No. 12, match up with No. 21 Acton-Boxborough (3-9). The time and day for the matches have yet to be determined.
Injuries to two top senior singles players changed the girls team’s expected lineup, but a pair of freshmen stepped up and asserted themselves as strong varsity competitors.
Isha Appadwedula owned the top singles spot from the outset, and classmate Malina Loretan stepped in, initially at doubles, and then third singles after injuries. Their steady presence allowed the rest of the lineup to round into form as the spring wore on, and also helped build a strong social circle in the process.
“I wasn’t sure about being one on the team, but I wanted to have a varsity spot,” Appadwedula said. “It’s been really nice being on a team because tennis is an individual sport. There’s a lot of really good support from the team. I’ve made a lot of friends.”
Loretan moved across the world last summer. Born in Switzerland, she and her family moved to Belmont from the Netherlands for her father’s job. Also a swimmer at Belmont High School, Loretan grew up playing year-round tennis on the club circuit. Playing for your school just isn’t a thing where Loretan grew up.
“The people here are a lot nicer. They want to get to know you,” Loretan said. “Being on a team is very nice because they always cheer during matches and are very supportive even if you don’t play your best.”
Following Appadwedula, senior Armela Mahadi and Loretan play singles; senior Avery Cai, junior Kate Polina, sophomores Rishika Garg and Elly Ishii play doubles. Senior Jackie Roy is also in the singles mix.
Mahadi and classmate Giselle Fond missed time with injuries. Fond is out for the tournament with a wrist injury, but Mahadi is back after missing time with a foot issue. She will hold down second singles.
“They both had wonky ligament-type things,” coach Eileen White said. “They’re really the top players and great leaders on the team, and I feel bad for them. We never even got the chance to build a proper ladder because of their injuries.”
Boys Tennis
The boys sport a young varsity lineup featuring just one senior, multi-year first doubles standout Brady Chan.
Sophomore Jack Moriarty made a massive jump thanks to dedicated offseason training, rising all the way up the lineup to first singles from second doubles. Classmate Miles Hendriks retained his spot at second singles, and last year’s top player, junior Kolya Radojevic, now occupies third singles.
Chan and sophomore Graham Coradeschi play first doubles. Junior Dorsey Mitchell and freshman Henry Running are second doubles.
“They play all the time,” coach John Loosmann said. “They have lessons, play at their tennis club, go to tournaments. They just work and stay in shape in the offseason. They just love playing tennis and are constantly playing with each other.”
Numerous subvarsity freshmen displayed talent throughout the spring, creating an iron-sharpens-iron type of environment.
“It’s providing a lot of motivation,” Loosmann said. “I tell the kids the season’s two months, the offseason’s 10 months, and that’s when you’ll see improvements. You’ve got to really want it and Henry is a great example of that.”
Last spring, Belmont was the No. 17 seed and topped No. 16 Xaverian on the road before falling to eventual state champion Saint John’s Prep. Getting back to hosting marked a positive step for the program. Sweeping rival Arlington in the regular season inspired confidence.
“I think we’re a little stronger than last year, honestly, and I think possibly the other schools out there in other leagues may not be as strong just based on what I’ve seen,” Loosmann said.
