By Teddy Simpson ’13, Staff Writer

After finishing the season 20-6, the Girls’ Tennis team considered the possibilities. It had been marked as a season of rebuilding; winning states came as a supplemental surprise to the Newark Academy school community.  Perhaps, from a competitive standpoint, players and fans should always expect such consistency. Despite a no-recruitment policy pervading NA Athletics, the team must say their goodbyes to a handful of valued seniors, while welcoming a new class of excellent talents. This year, the team loses first-singles star Molly Alter and crucial doubles’ contributors Allie Cohen, Phoebe Feinberg, Carly Gruenberg, and Priya Shah. The glue holding it all together, Head Coach Mr. Arky Crook enables the team to perform at such a high level each year.

Regarded throughout school as the athletic program of consistent excellence, both boys’ and girls’ tennis rarely falter. Unlike other teams, who peak and rise magnificently to the challenge when the talent presents itself, girls’ tennis provides a constant in the athletic department. One must wonder what the secret is to their year-in, year-out success. Captain Molly Alter ’12 notes that the entire “team always works really hard in the off-season.” Despite not being able to collaborate as a group until mid-August like all other NA sport teams, most tennis players play long hours individually throughout the spring and summer.

Additionally, the past success of the legendary program simply “attracts good tennis players,” says Alter. It seemed obvious to many, including Alter, that the coaching staff (composed of Mr. Arky Crook, Mr. Lou Scerra, and Mrs. Lydia Masterson) maintains very high standards for the team, never accepting a disappointing year. This year, the coaches supplemented the schedule with an overnight tournament in Moorestown, which definitely helped the team prepare for tougher conference and state matches. These types of tweaks and adaptations stand at the center of the program’s goal: to maintain the success of the past, but also to progress and develop for the future.

The combination of these factors equals the continued success of the Newark Academy tennis program, and it seems likely that will continue into next season. The underclassmen are strong, led by Becca Gorelov ’14, stepping up to the challenge at second-singles this year. An enthusiastic group of junior varsity girls will also look to step up, as has become tradition. We look forward to next year as Arky and his squad anticipate another big year, performing the miraculous with seeming ease.