Centaur pg 9 5-17-18
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Honored
Clara Siegmund with her Dad, Kurt and mom, Diane, during Senior Day on the Bentley Complex tennis courts. Photo courtesy of Ann Rathbone.
Clara Siegmund cannot believe her high school years are rapidly coming to an end.
May 9 the Woodstock Academy girls’ tennis program celebrated Senior Day during their last scheduled home match at the Bentley Athletic Complex.
Siegmund was one of those honored.
“So fast, so insanely fast,” Siegmund said of the last four years of her young life. “I was, literally, just thinking about that. Senior Day is here, it’s just crazy.”
Siegmund, the No. 1 singles player for Woodstock Academy was talking after she had just handed Killingly’s Julia Massey a 6-1, 6-0 defeat and helped the Centaurs to a 6-1 victory over the Redgals May 10.
“It’s such a good feeling to win on Senior Day. You feel accomplished for your whole season even though we have a couple of weeks left, it’s such a good feeling to know that you are ending at home on a good note,” Siegmund said.
Woodstock Academy coach Ann Rathbone said Siegmund has been a rock for the Centaurs.
“Clara has just been the heart and soul of the team for past couple of years,” Rathbone said. “She wears her heart on her sleeve and is very passionate about tennis and her teammates. She has endured the highs and lows of playing at the No. 1 singles slot and has represented The Academy with great class on and off the court.”
Siegmund will be headed to Rhode Island College in the fall and plans to continue to play tennis.
“I’ve been texting coach (Adam Spring) about my season, his season. He’s such a great guy. I could not be more excited,” Siegmund said.
The Centaurs also boast two other seniors in the girls’ starting lineup, Ellie Chervenkova and Sam Sheldon.
“Ellie is like the (silent) assassin. She’s quiet but can be quite deadly to her opponents as she is a hard-working, steady player who has been an integral part of the team for the past four years. Sam has turned herself into a good little player. She is great at working with the younger players and showing them the ropes. Sam is just such a positive, kind presence and such a pleasure to have on our team,” said Rathbone.
There is still plenty more to look forward to over the next couple of weeks.
The Centaurs girls program still has four matches to come this week, all on the road, at St. Bernard, Ledyard, Montville and Stonington.
Next week, some of the squad will take on Northwest Catholic May 15 while those like Siegmund will be playing in the Eastern Connecticut Conference championship tournament.
“I think we’re ready,” Siegmund said of the ECC championship which will take place in Stonington. “I think myself and (No. 2 singles player) Mari (Ruggeri) will go pretty far. I really think I have a chance of making the final. I was No. 4 last year in the ECC and had to play (Stonington’s) Gabby (Dellacono) in the semifinals. I can really see myself being No. 2 in the ECC, it’s one of my goals.”
Siegmund got a taste last week of what she is in for should she get that far.
The Centaurs hosted Stonington and lost to the Bears, 7-0, at the Bentley Athletic Complex. Siegmund fell to Dellacono 6-0, 6-1.
“I think it was the most beneficial match I played all year, Siegmund said. “I feel like I left everything I had out there and I got one game. That’s more than I was expecting.”
Rathbone agreed with Siegmund saying the tough competition, especially at this time of year, can only be beneficial.
“I do believe it makes us more battle-tested heading into the post-season and what doesn’t kill the kids, makes them stronger and they need that mental strength come tourney time,” Rathbone said.
The Bears clinched a tie for the ECC Division II title with that win. They clinch the title outright if they can beat the Centaurs again, in Stonington this time, on Friday.
The Academy did rally after that loss.
It posted wins over New London, Killingly and Fitch to raise its record to 11-3.
Boys’ tennis
The boys tennis team had similar results.
It lost to Stonington, 6-1, which gave the Bears the Division II championship.
Matt Tiffany and Aidan Stewart scored a 6-4, 6-2 win over Quinn Hamilton and Ben Anderson at No. 1 doubles to account for the Centaurs only win.
The boys’ team also downed Killingly and Fitch by the same score, 5-2, to raise its record to 7-6.
Marc Allard
Sports Information Director
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