Girls tennis: 'Rebuilding' Arlington tops Ketcham to complete sterling regular season

Yashaswina Bonthu was unlike herself on the court. She struggled even to return serves and it seemed her lateral range wasn’t nearly enough to keep up with this skilled opponent.

This, of course, was a significant victory for Matthew Gatta, who had just scored one off a varsity standout.

“His face lit up and he couldn’t stop smiling and waving to her afterwards,” Emma Gatta said of her 7-year-old brother. “It made him feel important to play against a high schooler, and it meant so much to him.”

In time, he’ll realize that Bonthu let him win. But, shhh … Don’t burst that bubble yet.

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Their match lasted about 20 minutes on Tuesday, when the sophomore invited the second-grader onto the court, essentially volunteering her time to create for him a warm memory.

That, coach David Gatta said, was indicative of the “welcoming” atmosphere his Arlington girls tennis team has fostered with a collection of congenial personalities.

There’s that, and they’re also really good.

Before she was stumped in that post-match exhibition, Bonthu excelled in competition, winning at second singles to help the Admirals earn a 5-2 win over rival Roy C. Ketcham, which secured for them at least a tie for their league title.

“The girls spent a lot of time in the offseason refining their skills and that was evident in the growth they’ve shown this season,” David Gatta said. “They’ve done a great job in making this season successful.”

Bonthu defeated Emily Zhang, 8-5, and Arlington swept the doubles matches, offsetting Ketcham’s wins at first and third singles. Emma Gatta and her sister, Anna Gatta, won 8-2 over Ketcham’s Sophia Zhang and Emma Watkiss.

Alex Thut and April Wang won at second doubles, and Jahnvi Mundra and Rachel Lee rolled to an 8-0 victory at third doubles to close out the Admirals’ regular season finale.

“This season has been amazing,” said Emma Gatta, a junior who cherishes the opportunity to partner with her freshman sister while coached by their father. “I’m impressed with how much we’ve all improved individually, and how that translated to team success.”

Arlington (8-2) did go undefeated in the regular season last fall, but the graduation of six standouts and the addition of a first-year coach cast some doubt about how the program would fair. David Gatta had previously coached youth baseball and soccer, and he plays tennis recreationally, but he admittedly was a novice in coaching this sport.

So, it was reasonable for those questions to hover throughout the offseason.

But, despite eight underclassmen comprising more then half the roster, the team has flourished in what could have been a rebuilding season.

Thut and Gianna Tomasulo, their only seniors, have developed as leaders and set the tone for the group in practice and outside of school.

“I’ve relied on the captains to uphold the standards and past practices,” David Gatta said. “I’ve made it player-centered, where I’ll ask them for feedback and we go over what they saw in each match and what we need to work on. From there, I’ll give them drills and points of emphasis. But the credit belongs to them.”

Several of the players trained regularly at Cross Court Tennis Club in Wappingers Falls last winter, during which time the team bonding began and some of the tangible progress was made. Emma Gatta said the power on her serve improved significantly.

Julia Daly, a junior, has blossomed into their No. 1 singles player. Tomasulo is 7-3 this season, playing singles for the first time.

“It’s very impressive that she’s done as well, but her leadership and attitude have also been factors,” the coach said of Tomasulo, adding that she’ll sometimes even compliment an opponent during the match. “Gianna and Alex made it a point to make the younger kids feel included and create that fun atmosphere.”

What was set to be a home match for Arlington was moved to the indoor venue Tuesday because of the persistent rain. David Gatta was effusive in thanking Lou Dimock, the director of Cross Court, for allowing the teams free use of the facility.

John Jay-East Fishkill will host Ketcham on Friday in those teams’ final match, the Patriots playing for a tie with Arlington in their league.

Either way, the Admirals have completed a regular season they can be proud of and now will look to the Section 1 tournament.

“It’s a mix of confidence and nervousness,” Emma Gatta said of the playoffs. “There are a lot of great Westchester teams and that’s who you’ll see in sectionals. But we believe in ourselves and know what we’re capable of.”

Stephen Haynes: shaynes@poughkeepsiejournal.com; 845-437-4826; Twitter: @StephenHaynes4

This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Girls tennis: Rebuilding Arlington silences doubts with stellar season