Groton tennis posts side-by-side wins over Exeter and Andover

A freak April nor’easter covered the Circle in snow Thursday but couldn’t cool off the Zebra tennis squads, as boys and girls varsity beat big-school powerhouses Exeter and Andover. 

With both contests moved inside due to the weather, Groton defended their home courts side by side. The boys topped rival Exeter for the second year in a row, 4–3, while the girls kicked off their season with a 5–4 win over Andover, the reigning NEPSAC Class A champions.

“Whether a 7–0 rout, or a squeaker 4–3, a victory is sweet in any form,” said boys Coach John Conner. “I am so proud of these boys today. They truly played as a team, cheering each other on, and carrying themselves confidently in every way. To start a season knocking off Deerfield and Exeter is something that I will never take for granted. I am grateful to all the fans who came out to support Groton today, including Headmaster and Mrs. Maqubela.”

Girls Coach Ryan Holmes was encouraged by his team’s season opener, and the support both teams got from the Groton community.

“We treat every match like it is a big match, but Andover is always a little bigger,” he said. “I am so proud of the way the girls played and for all the energy they had. One match does not make the season a success, but it is certainly a great start. I cannot imagine there is another school around that shows as much spirit and support for their tennis programs as Groton does.”

News of the wins quickly made its way across campus.

 

“The fun and momentary magic of having our girls and boys teams playing side by side against the Phillips powerhouses is hard to describe,” said Headmaster Temba Maqubela. “Seeing our girls triumph over Andover on the same courts where our boys defeated Exeter—something we’ve grown accustomed to in recent years—will surely remain a highlight of Groton’s spring season for all of us.”

The wins put Groton teams undefeated on the young season, with the boys 2–0 heading to Connecticut this weekend to defend their title at the Kingswood-Oxford Tournament and the girls taking their 1–0 record to Deerfield on Saturday.

For full recaps of both matches, visit groton.org/athletics.