Division 1 girls’ tennis title was nearly 50 years in the making for Newton South
CAMBRIDGE — Manel Guermazi threw her racket into the air and leaped in jubilation.
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It wasn’t easy, but the Newton South junior closed out her second singles match, 7-5, 7-5, to clinch a long-awaited state title against Dual County League rival Boston Latin at MIT’s duPont Courts Saturday.
“It was unbelievable. I’ve dreamed of that moment when I can just throw my racket and let it all out for so long,” said Guermazi. “I’m happy, I’m relieved, and this is an indescribable feeling.”
The Division 1 title is Newton South’s first in 49 years and feels especially sweet after a season-long battle with the third-seeded Wolfpack (18-2).
“When [Manel] clinched the third point, I started crying,” said Newton South coach Noura Guermazi, Manel’s mother. “When we lost to Boston Latin in the regular season, I told the team that we would learn from the loss and get better. They worked every day, and it paid off.”
Lauren Sayers and Sofia Kovarzin earned the first point of the day for the top-seeded Lions (18-1) with a 6-3, 6-2 win at second doubles, and Olivia Whitaker prevailed 6-4, 6-2 at first singles, paving the way for Guermazi’s match-sealing victory.
Sienna Solorza and Emily Zhu triumphed 3-6, 6-2, 6-2 at first doubles, and Olivia Whitaker won 6-2, 7-6 at third singles to finalize the sweep — the Lions’ fourth of the tournament.
Whitaker, a senior, was a key member of the team in her freshman and sophomore years, before stepping away for junior season. Her return, according to her teammates, was what got them over the hump.
“We learned a lot over the course of the season, and defied the expectations we set for ourselves,” said Whitaker. “This feels really nice.”
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