By Aaron Rodenhausen
Sports Editor
The Washington College tennis program completed its spring break slate last week with two wins and three losses. The men’s team faced four opponents in Orlando, Fla., while the women’s team played two games in Texas.
The Shoremen kicked off their trip with confidence but ready to learn from adversity.
“We’re feeling great going into the spring break matches,” junior Tiziano Chialva said. “We’ll be playing against some very competitive schools, so it will be a great challenge for us.”
The team began the week with a pair of games on March 9. First, the Shoremen played the Owls of #13 Kenyon College and lost 0-7, before facing Wabash College in a match that was cut short by the closing of the facility.
Although the first day had proved challenging indeed, the Shoremen fared better against the Golden Rams of West Chester University on March 11. WC took the day 6-1, winning every singles match but losing all three doubles. Chialva claimed victory (6-2, 6-0) in the No. 2 singles match, which was the first to finish.
“For me, the highlight of the match was the energy and encouragement from my teammates the whole time. In games like this, energy and attitude are really important,” Chialva said.
Lastly, the Shoremen played the Firebirds of Carthage College. WC suffered a narrow loss, 4-3, with the Firebirds taking two out of three doubles and three out of six singles. Sophomore Oskar Wroblewski earned the Shoremen’s first win of the day when he finished No. 6 singles (6.4, 7-6). Chialva and junior Jorge Urgal Zuleta brought home the men’s only doubles win of the day, completing the No. 1 match 6-4.
Now, the Shoremen stand at 4-4 overall. Their first game back in Maryland is set for March 21, when they will host 9th-ranked Swarthmore College. The contest will also be WC’s first in the Centennial Conference for 2026.
As for the Shorewomen, they first traveled to Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas on March 9, where they recorded a 6-1 victory. The host Mountaineers found their only win in #2 singles, which finished fourth with a score of 12-10.
Encouraged by the decisive outcome, the WC team then played in Georgetown, Texas, against the Pirates of Southwestern University on March 11. The Pirates stole two of three doubles matches and four of six singles, resulting in a final margin of 5-2.
Senior Isabella Sorhegui and sophomore Gaby Coutts provided the women’s sole doubles win of the game (6-2), and Sorhegui was also first to finish her singles match (No. 5: 6-2, 6-2).
Returning home, the Shorewomen now hold a 5-3 standing overall and are ready to spring into action next Wednesday against the College of New Jersey in Ewing, N.J. Conference play will begin for the women’s team on March 28 with a home match against Dickinson College.
Photo Caption: Sophomore Gaby Coutts was named Centennial Conference player of the Week for the first time this month.
Photo courtesy of WC Athletics