By Sadie Kolodner

With the end of the school year closing in, the Rye Country Day Boys Varsity Tennis team took to the courts in full swing. Led by Coach Shea and Coach Solem alongside captains Darren Wong ‘26 and Lincoln Feng ‘26, the team had a record breaking season. 

Unfortunately, the team did not get the chance to go on their yearly pre-season trip, where they would typically practice their skills for the upcoming season and build team chemistry. However, they still managed to find time outside of practice to get together as a group. Wong recalled one of his favorite team memories, where they all went to enjoy a fulfilling dinner of burritos and bowls from Chipotle. For Lucas Goldman ‘28, the best and most memorable times to bond came on the travel to and from games, where the “bus rides, especially the long ones, were great,” giving teammates time to talk and listen to music without the stress of being on the court. 

When the pressure was on, the team knew how to stay focused. Three varsity players made it to the FAA tournament semifinals: Ethan Kantor ‘27, Lucas Goldman ‘28, and Alex Lowham ‘29, an impressive milestone for the team. Wong described the team as “very young but also powerful,” a description that’s exemplified by one of the players Wong specifically highlighted: 8th Grader Alex Lowham. He “really stepped it up and rose to the occasion,” contributing to a variety of the team’s victories throughout the season. The team described how they were excited to have him continue his RCDS career on the tennis team as he officially enters high school.

However, no season is complete without a few setbacks. One of the team’s most devastating losses was against Greenwich Country Day School, where they lost 2-5. Wong noted how the loss fueled the team’s desire to improve and served as an important learning experience that contributed to their closely-contested victory against Brunswick a few days later, winning 4-3. The turnaround was a testament to their passion and intensity, as the team was able to quickly regroup and focus on the following matches. 

As the season wrapped up, the team tied for 1st overall in FAAs, a clear representation of the work and effort they put in this season. While a few seniors are graduating, the team hopes to keep up their intensity and commitment for the 2026-2027 season, with even higher goals.