Top-seeded Wilmington girls tennis team advances to state semifinal

WILMINGTON — The season was on the line for Shubhangi Tripathi and the top-seeded Wilmington High girls tennis team.

The Wildcats’ second doubles tandem had just strolled off the court after a 6-4, 6-4 defeat, leaving Tripathi and her opponent alone on the surface with the match on the line.

The spectators on hand at Wilmington High School gathered around the final match, which was approaching its third hour of duration.

Tripathi was tired. She was nervous.

But the junior dug in, climbing back from an 2-0 deficit in the third set to prevail, 7-5, and send her team to the Div. 3 Final Four in a 3-2 victory over No. 9 Belchertown.

Top-seeded Wilmington (14-5) draws No. 4 Weston for a shot to compete for a title.

“She’s the type of girl that doesn’t want to let anyone down,” said Wilmington head coach Christina Woods. “I knew she was going to come through because that’s how she is. I’m very proud of her.”

Tripathi’s duel with Gianna Picardi was a marathon on Saturday afternoon. After dropping her first set 6-4, Tripathi went on to win the next pair of sets 6-4, 7-5 to earn her most meaningful victory of her career.

“The cheering helped a lot and it helped motivate me,” said Tripathi. “I knew there were so many people counting on me. My teammates work so hard and we definitely deserve to go to the Final Four.”

Tripathi’s triumph was far from easy. In a match filled with various disagreements and discussions over scores, tensions began to rise.

“That just made it even more competitive,” said Woods. “She was able to pull through. She’s got that grit, and she’s hard working.”

“That motivated me to do better on the second set,” added Tripathi. “I have to beat her. I was just trying to compose myself so I could think more clearly. I was hitting more slices that are easy shots.”

While Tripathi’s heroics headline Wilmington’s thrilling victory, the Wildcats saw two dominant showings on the singles court to build an early lead. Savannah Beatrice (6-3, 6-0) made easy work of her opponent as Jaslene Ryou (6-2, 6-1) was victorious.

After compiling a 16-2 record in the regular season, Beatrice hasn’t slowed down in the tournament.

“She took the game very fast,” said Woods. “She’s an amazing player and she’s very talented. That’s how her matches have gone all season. There’s a lot of good things coming her way.”

Belchertown picked up its points in doubles, defeating Wilmington’s Maria Cummings and Allison D’Arco (6-4, 6-4), and Madison Benoit and Sophia LaVita (6-4, 6-0).

That didn’t impede Wilmington and its quest to stay alive.

“They have each other’s backs,” said Woods. “If someone loses, one of the others pulls through. That’s how it’s been all season.”

After a 4-13 campaign last spring, Woods and her squad are two wins away from a state championship.

“I was not expecting it coming into the season, and then we started just winning,” she said. “As the season went on and we started getting the power rankings, we were number one the first time. From there, it just continued. Now, we’re here. Let’s finish it.”