As the sun shines over the Robinson School Tennis Courts, wind blows through the fences. The Ghosts stand under the sun, past the fences, on the courts. They swing their rackets against the breeze, ready to take on any opponent who stands in their way of success.
With spring right on the horizon, Westford Academy Boys’ Tennis is gearing up for yet another successful season on the courts. Tryouts begin on Monday, March 17, and anyone interested in joining the team can visit their website for information on the coaches, roster, schedule, and general information about the club.
The off-season is a time where a team can work on specific weaknesses, and improve on their strengths. This year the team has been taking full advantage of all the time they have, by incorporating a mix of technical drills and game-like scenarios, such as tiebreakers, which are meant to simulate match conditions and prepare them for high-stress moments.
“This season, my main focus is to improve the consistency and placement of my serve, turning it into a real weapon on the court instead of a weakness,” senior Nikhil Chaudhuri said. “I also want to strengthen my mental game […] so I can stay composed when the match gets close.”
In the offseason, some of the most important goals are set by the coach. This offseason head coach Patrick Claycomb has one major goal for the team.
“If there is one area I would really like to see improvement in, it would be strategy,” Claycomb said “I want our team to have a plan of attack when they are on the court this year.”
Ever since Claycomb was a kid, he has had a passion for sports. This passion brought him to coach various sports on multiple levels at Westford Academy. This will be his third year coaching the Boys’ Varsity Tennis Team.
The offseason is also a perfect opportunity for a team to bond and build team chemistry, which is a crucial element of every team sport, like tennis.
“Team chemistry is, without a doubt, one of the most critical elements of any successful team. It is what truly separates good teams from great ones,” Chaudhuri said.
Chemistry does not always have an affect on the court, it can help bring a team together emotionally and spiritually as well.
“We’re trying to train together whether it is technical practice or conditioning together, we’re focused on really improving our chemistry together and being a family in a sense,” senior captain Saunak Manna said.
One way to build that chemistry while also working on individual goals is through practice sessions, but with upperclassmen not having much free time, it can become difficult to bond with each player.
“With senior year responsibilities, college applications, and schoolwork piling up, it’s been tough for many of us to get as much time on the court as we’d like,” Chaudhuri said.
One way the team has chipped away at this goal of improving chemistry is through their preseason fundraiser at the Marcus Lewis Tennis Center.
“[The fundraiser] was an opportunity for us to collaborate, communicate, and build a sense of unity off the court. Creating a positive, supportive atmosphere like this keeps us motivated and translates directly to better teamwork and stronger performances when the season begins,” Chaudhuri said.
According to Manna, with time being a major issue in regards to players not being able to get as much practice as they would like in the preseason and thus not improving as much as they anticipated, the competitiveness of other teams takes a close second in the team’s major concerns for the upcoming season. In order to succeed and beat those teams, players need to step up from singles to doubles and play with a level of intensity that is unmatched.
“Our biggest challenges this year are being able to win […] against teams like AB and CC in the DCL and deeper state tournament games like the quarterfinals,” Manna said. “While we have had major success in the singles in the past, we have struggled a [bit] with our doubles teams and against harder competition. We have to be able to win at doubles as well to have a chance.”
Having been in the top ten for the past three years, and making the state quarter finals last year, the Ghosts are coming into the season with high expectations. The team also wants to stay humble, aware that they are in the toughest conference in the state that is filled with dozens of talented schools.
“I try to make a point to never be overconfident… [although] we have a very talented team,” Claycomb said. “Our expectations are high once again.”
As the team works hard together in the off-season to build team chemistry and improve upon their individual skills, the team shares one common goal: win a trophy.
“We want more than [state quarter finals] this year, and I feel that anything short of a final four appearance or DCL title would be disappointing even with how competitive the DCL is in tennis,” Manna said.
This season will look a little different, with former captain Connor Liona having gone to play Division 1 tennis at Sacred Heart University. Manna will need to step up to play the #1 position, from having played the #2 position the past three years.
“Everything starts with senior captain Saunak Manna. He has played the #2 position for the past three years and finally gets to step into the #1 spot this year. He has been a leader on this team since his freshman year,” Claycomb said.
With the 2025 season right around the corner, the team looks forward to yet another successful season, and is eager to get back on the court.
“I’m really excited to get back into competition. We’ve got a lot of talent across all grades, and I truly believe we have what it takes to go all the way,” Chaudhuri said.
The team’s first game will be on Friday, April 4 at 4 p.m at Winn Brook Elementary School Tennis Courts against Belmont High School.
