East Lyme senior Finn Power has been the man when it comes to Eastern Connecticut Conference boys’ tennis. He began the school year as the two-time defending ECC singles champion who’d be gunning for a third title in his final go-around.

Power didn’t three-peat, and it wasn’t because spring sports were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic — it was because he wasn't going to play tennis this spring.

Track became Power’s new passion after giving it a shot this winter at the insistence of friends. He didn’t participate in winter sports during previous seasons. They thought he’d be good at running having watched him play soccer. And Power was — he helped East Lyme win the ECC Division I sprint medley relay title.

“I was hesitant because over (last) summer, I was still on for tennis,” Power said. “And I knew that if I was going to be all for tennis, then I had to go to the gym. And the gym, I actually really liked it because it really made me feel better about myself and got me ready for the season.”

Power’s friends — Lissa Geida, Cian Mansfield, Darya Mikusova, and Sophie Taylor — kept encouraging him to try out for track.

“I was like, ‘alright, I’ve won ECC for tennis. I really want to try something new,’” Power said. “It was a late decision in November, and I loved it. It was just a great time. The sport itself is not very fun. It’s just the people that make it so much fun. I’ve got a great group of friends, all a grade below me, and they’re just great people. And they made it an enjoyable experience.

“It’s such a nice community. Everyone was pushing you to do better. ... The workouts to get to that point (running) are terrible, but the satisfaction of finishing a race and getting a personal best is second-to-none.”

Steve Hargis, East Lyme’s boys’ indoor and outdoor track and field coach and athletic director, knew of Power, but not much else when he tried out this winter. He had him try the 600 since he was a midfielder and earned all ECC Division I honorable mention honors this fall.

“He was a solid 600 guy from the get-go,” Hargis said. “He ran almost every other event up to the mile. He’s a team guy you love to have. He’s that guy on your team in the locker room who is extremely positive, even though he’s intense.

“You couldn’t find a nicer guy on the planet.”

Power adapted quickly. East Lyme was midway through its season at the Rhody Track Classic (Jan. 11) when he was put onto the 4x800 relay team.

“That was interesting because that was the first time I actually did it,” Power said. “I had no practice for the handoff because (the decision) was at the last minute. It was good, though. I didn’t drop the baton, which was nice.”

Power, Lucas DeNucci, Cameron McGurer and Fisher Macklin later won the 1,440 sprint medley (3 minutes, 29.55 seconds) at the ECC Division I meet on Feb. 1.

He also teamed with Magnum Brandt, Theodore Bergman and Macklin to finish second in the 4x720 (7:49.23) and placed sixth in the 600 (1:32.23).

“It was so fun, and competing as a team was just the best,” Power said. “Compared to soccer and tennis, I felt more pressure on me. … ‘you can’t let down the team.’

“Even the team events that we did (in track), like the 4x800, (my) teammates didn’t actually care how you did as long as you pushed yourself hard enough. You can’t do any better than what your body allows you to do, and they know that. And it was great. (Going for) personal bests, they’re all cheering you on.”

Power fell in love with track so fast that, two weeks into the season, he told Hargis that he was going to run track in the spring instead of tennis.

“I’m thinking, ‘how am I going to tell Susan Welshock (East Lyme’s boys’ tennis coach)?,’” Hargis said. “So my response to him, and there are witnesses, ‘no, you’re not. You’re playing tennis.’”

Power said, “Two guys I really became brothers with (on track) were Fisher and Magnum, and I love those two. They made me want to stay (and do spring track). They actually gave me no option. They said, ‘you’re not going to tennis.’”

“I wanted to keep getting better. ... Unfortunately, due to circumstances, I didn’t get to. (It) stinks. Oh, well.”

Power will head to Bentley University in a few months, a school renowned for its business programs. He’s looked at collegiate track times and thinks he could do it.

And then a week ago, Power began thinking that maybe he should go out for tennis instead.

“I’ve played a lot recently, almost every day, in the past week,” Power said. “I want to keep playing right now. Honestly, my coach at Lyme Shores (Bobby Schlink) thinks I could do it. And now, I guess I’m kind of training for it.

“I guess the three months off made me realize how I much I actually miss it.”

n.griffen@theday.com