Undefeated: Stonington girls' tennis team winds up the regular season 14-0
Stonington — A year ago, Hannah Fabianski went from being a member of Stonington's No. 1 doubles team the season before to being the Bears' No. 1 singles player, a tougher transition than perhaps she was expecting.
"I was getting down at the beginning of the season," Fabianski said, taking a moment to reflect. "Like, 'Wait a minute. Maybe this isn't my thing.' Then I decided, 'I'm not going to be this player anymore; I'm not going to go out there and keep losing.' I became so much more competitive, so much more driven."
There was a lot of meaning, then, for the Stonington High School girls' tennis team in Thursday's 7-0 victory over Windham.
The Bears finished the regular season 14-0 after dropping three matches last season, including two 4-3 decisions to Eastern Connecticut Conference Medium foe Waterford which cost them the division title. Fabianski and No. 2 singles player Emily Gardiner also completed the season 14-0, which will make Fabianski the top seed in next week's ECC tournament.
"It's not that easy to go undefeated. It's a great pleasure when it happens," Stonington coach George Crouse said. "Last year we had three losses, 4-3, 4-3, 4-3 and we lost in states to a better team (top-seeded Westbrook). If we had the experience and the confidence, we could have reversed those three losses."
The experience and the confidence are in full effect now.
Fabianski, who will continue her career next year at Bentley, topped Windham's Mia Navarro 6-0, 6-0 in the No. 1 slot. Playing with her sore left shin wrapped, Fabianski started out limping and changed rackets in the first game before settling in.
Gardiner defeated Lilly Tartsinis at No. 2 6-2, 6-0 and Taylor Startz and Mallory McArdle added singles wins for the Bears.
In doubles, Stonington played four teams in order to use all its seniors on senior day, with the final two teams each competing for half a point. The winning teams, consisting of all seniors, were Jen Carroll-Julie Fabrykiewicz, Morgan Parrilla-Gina Feliciano, Maeve Manfredi-Deanna Gharios and Patsy Dunn-Naomi Middleton.
"I had no offseason. I don't believe in an offseason," said Fabianski of her determination to improve. "From the last practice last year, I've been hitting every chance I can. It's made me better mentally, physically, emotionally. Being around this team has made me able to have this undefeated season."
Individually, Fabianski credits Stonington teacher and personal trainer Todd Gwaltney with helping improve her strength. Team-wise, she speaks of Crouse, in his 29th season.
"I've known him since I was 7 and he's never cut me any slack," Fabianski said with a smile. "He keeps us going."
"They have the skills," Crouse said. "I can teach them technique and game attitude, how to get focused with what you have to do. It's a mental growth game. Things are even ... you have to think better."
The coach gave credit to his four-year players, who were members of Stonington's Class S state championship team in 2013 and who "listened to Crouse tell you his philosophy and what you should be doing" all that time.
He said of Fabianski: "She's worked very, very hard. As (Joe) Ciriello (former Stonington basketball and tennis coach) used to say, 'take your basketball to bed with you.' (Fabianski) takes her tennis racket."
"This is great," Gardiner said. "Last year was a rebuilding year. Last year I started at No. 4 singles and I went to No. 2. It was such a challenge. I played girls I was playing against before and I beat them this year."
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Twitter: @vickieatheday
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