Katherine Stoltenberg had a comfort level with the Stuart Country Day School tennis team right from the start this fall.
“We didn’t graduate anybody,” said Stuart head coach Stoltenberg. “Everyone had experience, it was good.”
One of the better experiences for Stuart this season came when the Tartans recently beat Nottingham 5-0, winning each match in straight sets.
“Everyone played well and stayed focused on the task,” said Stoltenberg, whose team went on to fall 3-2 to Pennington on October 28 and 4-1 to Peddie last Thursday to end the season with a 4-6 record in dual matches.
“It is towards the end of the season and they are sore. I wanted them to focus on winning each game and each set, it was a good way to start the end of our season.”
Senior co-captain Maya Huang displayed good focus at first singles for the Tartans.
“Maya climbed up the ladder from first doubles to first singles last year,” said Stoltenberg.
“It is a challenging spot, you are at the top of the ladder but you are playing the best players from the other team. Maya rose to the occasion when playing the really good players. She works hard; she puts her heart into it.”
At second singles, senior co-captain Julia Rourke gave Stuart some good work.
“Julia has been a rock at second singles for us,” said Stoltenberg. “She has helped with the other singles players. She has been a force this fall.”
Stoltenberg is expecting sophomore and third singles players Caitlyn Delaney to be a force over the rest of her Stuart career.
“Caitlyn has a ton of potential; we are excited to have her for another two years,” said Stoltenberg.
“From day one, she has been a fighter. She will go to three sets, most of which she has won. We talk about conditioning and training in the offseason and through the season, she did that and it that showed in her three-set matches.”
The McGowen family dominated the Stuart doubles lineup as juniors Natalie and Pamela McGowen played first doubles while sophomore Alaina McGowen played at second doubles with senior Mia Austria.
The all-McGowen first doubles team predictably showed a special chemistry to go with their skill.
“They are sisters, they are two of three triplets,” said Stoltenberg. “They played last year at first doubles as well. Not only are they sisters, but they complement each other on and off the court. They have developed traditions and routines as a team.”
At second doubles, the younger McGowen made a good team with senior Austria.
“Mia had been a captain on JV and a swing player in the past, it was good to have her full-time,” said Stoltenberg.
“Ali is a sophomore but she had varsity experience and Mia stepped right in. They started to jell; they really showed how they would play to the end of any match.”
While Stuart is saying goodbye to Huang, Rourke, and Austria, Stoltenberg sees good continuity going forward.
“We are graduating three seniors but have some good JV players coming up and hopefully all four McGowens plus Caitlyn,” said Stoltenberg, noting that one of the triplets, Juliet McGowen, was sidelined with injury this fall.