S.B. girls tennis team had season to remember

The South Brunswick girls tennis team enjoyed perhaps its finest season ever this fall, and has the accolades to prove it.

The Vikings reached the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group IV tournament before bowing out to Hillsborough, and also took third in the Greater Middlesex Conference team tournament, where five Viking players took third place individually.

In addition, seven Viking players reached the quarterfinals of the GMC Tournament, with six of those seven reaching the semifinals.

The first doubles team of juniors Meena Ramachandra and Meredith Ragany also advanced to the Round of 16 in the NJSIAA State Tournament, and put together a stellar all-around season with records of 10-2 in the Red Division, 10-3 in GMC play and 19-7 overall. They were the team MVPs.

First singles players Christie Gagliano also played well this year, posting records of 6-6 in the division and 6-7 in the GMC, while second singles player Rachel Amrhein, one of three graduating seniors, shared the same records. Amrhein also took home the Coach’s Award for leadership, skill and sportsmanship.

Sophomore Divya Toshnical was strong at third singles, with an 8-4-1 mark in the division, a 9-4-1 mark in the GMC, and a 15-7-1 record.

At second doubles, a pair of graduating seniors — Cathy Joseph and Rasika Chandrashekar — were 9-3 in the division, 10-3 in the GMC and 18-5 overall.

Among the other players to contribute for the Vikings were junior Anne Zhang and senior Mary Hesson.

“Two years ago, when everyone except one player graduated, we were fifth in the conference,” head coach Barbara Whitman said. “Last year we were fourth and this year we were third. Our high level improves even more every year, and next year we will be back continuing to meet our high standards. We won’t stop until we are No. 1, and then we still won’t stop.”

Whitman also shared in the team’s success this fall, earning four separate Coach of the Year recognitions, including the U.S. Professional Tennis Association’s High School Coach of the Year.

“The girls were really motivated to play throughout the fall, winter, spring and summer,” the coach said. “Our community tennis programs really help kids and their families get interested in tennis. So many people are in our programs and the surrounding clubs. It’s been said that teams are made in season but players are made out of season. This is so true. The girls are working hard all year.”

And the future of the South Brunswick team continues to look bright. While the Vikings are losing the three starters, they will also return plenty of talented players. In addition, South Brunswick proved to have plenty of talent at the junior varsity level this season as well, as the Vikings JV went 9-1, led by the second doubles team of Sindhu Shamasunder and Prasannah Ashokkumar (first in the GMCT), and second singles star Annie Zhang (finalist in GMCT). Also playing well for the Viking JV team were third singles player Haley Burke (third at GMCT), first singles player Kim Patel (semifinalist at GMCT), second singles player Ambica Buddhavarapu, the first doubles team of Erica Brokaw and Anusha Koduru, and the second doubles tandem of Kavita Vemishetti and Anisha Satyarthi.

— Vin Rapolla