Playing with patience, and grace
Weymouth girls' acceptance of newcomer produces wins on tennis court
From a very young age, Amanda Albuquerque has traveled the country, competing in regional and national tennis events. Yet none of those tournaments quite matched the pressure that she faced a year ago, when as a sophomore, she went out for the Weymouth High team.
Albuquerque didn't play her freshman year because her time, and focus, were dedicated to intense training sessions and numerous competitions. But last season she wanted to add a high school sport to her resume.
"I didn't know what it was like because it was my first time going out for a high school sport," she said. "It was nerve-racking for me because I didn't know what to expect. It was totally different compared to the national tournaments I have played in. You have a team there to support you, and in the end, we had a lot of fun."
For the first time, Albuquerque was introduced to the team tennis concept, and while she was excited about the idea, she was nervous about how she would be received by her teammates after she earned the squad's first singles spot. That in turn forced other players to drop in the team's rotation.
Melissa Dempsey, who had played No. 1 singles as a freshman and sophomore, moved to No. 2. Her twin sister, Megan, moved from No. 2 singles to No. 1 doubles with Samantha Norton.
Melissa Dempsey acknowledged that she needed some time to accept the change.
"I'm really competitive, and it was hard to have a younger girl come in and take my spot, but she's very good," said Dempsey. "It was hard because I thought I could compete at No. 1 just as well as she could, but I knew I wasn't as good of a player as she is.
"After a month or so she was winning, 6-0, 6-0, and I knew that we were really lucky to have her."
Albuquerque said she felt lucky to have the opportunity with her new team. And she helped the Wildcats reach the Division 1 South Sectional final for the first time in school history.
Coach John Caterer said he was pleased that his team could put together such an outstanding season, but he also was proud of the way his players, like Melissa Dempsey, accepted the changes.
"She has been as dignified as any kid I've ever seen of accepting that role and dropping down a spot," Caterer said.
With their successful season behind them, the Wildcats are in positions where they know what is expected of them. The team won four of its first five matches, the lone loss coming to Needham, which edged Weymouth in last year's South final, 3-2.
All players are finding that they can show their skills at their level for Weymouth. Albuquerque, who finished 19-2 last season, started the year 4-1. She possesses a stroke that Caterer said is "the most flawless stroke of any boy or girl I've ever coached."
Melissa Dempsey, competitive and powerful with a balance of patience and strength in her game, is 4-1 at No. 2.
No. 3 singles player Melissa Kimball is a junior who plays with patience and consistency. She has been known to play matches that last more than hour and a half.
Megan Dempsey and Norton have ended up becoming lightning in a bottle for the Wildcats, the friends becoming a prolific tandem at No. 1 doubles, off to a 5-0 start this spring.
And the No. 2 doubles team of Jamie McGregor and Alex Atammanczuk is still working toward developing consistency but has the support of the group, according to Caterer.
With such a deep squad, Weymouth is not the "Cinderella team" it claimed to be last season. And Albuquerque said she is happy that she was able to be a part of it all.
"I feel more relaxed and I got to know the girls, and we became a family," Albuquerque said. "They're there for me, and I'm there for them, and that's what makes us a really good team."
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