As we welcome the end of the school year and the conclusion of spring sports, it feels right to recognize the accomplishments of our very own Newington High School Varsity Girls Tennis Team. With 10 graduating seniors and with an outstanding record of 17-2 in the Southern Division, they became the 2026 CCC Champions! Additionally, congratulations to the four athletes who made the 2026 CCC All Conference, including Sophomore, Neha Vishwanath; Junior, Emma DePase; and Seniors, Suri Sanchez and Sasha Taschuk, who serve as team captains.

The team also had the amazing opportunity to travel to Florida earlier in the season and compete at the National Tennis Center! Suri Sanchez and Neha Vishwanath also made the Invitational State Tournament. And of course, none of this would have been possible without Varsity Coach Sean Hussey, who, thanks to this success, celebrates his 100th win with the NHS Girls Tennis Team within his career. 

When asked to reflect on her season, Suri Sanchez said, "I really appreciate the group of girls this year.  Everyone was so welcoming, and the underclassmen really bonded with the senior players.  We really gelled this year, especially playing in Florida with professionals."  She continued to talk about how team breakfasts and dinners helped the team camaraderie. Sanchez said, "I became friends with so many new people and looked forward to going to practice every day."

In my conversation with  JV Girl Tennis Coach, Ms. Rappaport, I presented the question of how the team likes to celebrate their performance in the moments of their success. She said, “The most important thing is leaving our opponent with the best impression of who we are.” Despite their wins or losses, the NHS Girls Tennis Team values humility throughout their seasons. By prioritizing sportsmanship and hard work, they have made this season both incredibly memorable and rewarding.