Under the leadership of seniors Shay Mallempati, Tim Schusser, and Netane Ofa, the Pinewood tennis team qualified for the CCS tournament, having gone 11-4 this season.
“No matter what grade, I was starting as a rookie and now as a team captain, having the inclusive and laid-back community is what makes the tennis program what it is,” senior Ofa said.
“This year we managed to beat every team that we normally struggle to beat, like Crystal Springs School and Kings Academy,” Schusser said.
For the tennis team, one of the biggest games of the season was their matchup against Kings Academy. They managed to sweep Kings 7-0 in a win that set the team up for the CCS tournament. This match was one of Mallempati’s biggest games because his opponent was getting constant advice from the other team’s coach, which made it difficult for Mallempati to focus.
“The coach would always be coaching him to the point that it was really annoying, and it was just getting on my nerves,” Mallempati said. “Beating my opponent and the coach was one of the greatest feelings.”
All three seniors started as freshmen on the tennis team, and watching the team grow is something they are all proud of.
“Since my freshman year, we have progressively gotten better, and having a team with a high ceiling is a big part of this success,” Ofa said.
Along with that, as individual players, each senior has grown into a leader on the team. Because of their leadership, most of the team practiced on their own time, including during breaks, showing their high level of commitment to the team.
“[Sophomore] Dylan Faerber, our singles two became significantly better,” Mallempati said. “With that, we had a bunch of freshmen that had the drive to win points and matches, and collectively, everybody practiced over all the breaks, which led to a significantly better season.”
Another factor in the tennis team’s success was their tennis coach, Craig Corfield. Corfield has been coaching Pinewood tennis for years and has established a culture revolving around inclusion and success. For the past four years, Corfield has motivated and taught the seniors, improving their play.
“Craig is definitely the funniest and best tennis coach there is, and he makes all the games and practices so incredibly fun,” Schusser said.
This focus on having fun has contributed to the team’s success, letting players feel less pressure when they play. Every year, the tennis team has gotten better, culminating in their placement in CCS.
“Pinewood tennis is special because it’s kind of like a child,” Mallempati said. “You raise it from birth, and you know once they go to college, you’re just happy and proud to see it go.”
