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05/11/2017 12:00 AMNorth Branford High School has a new person at the helm of its tennis teams with Matt Tortora on board this spring. Since the Thunderbirds don’t have their usual numbers on the boys’ squad, Matt is serving as head coach for both the boys’ and girls’ teams, and he’s thoroughly enjoying the experience.
“I think it’s great. We have two boys—one is new to tennis and the other one played last year. Some other [athletic directors] were nice enough to set up their schedules and give the boys opportunities to qualify for tournaments,” says Matt, a former assistant tennis coach at Daniel Hand High School in Madison. “[The boys] hit with us and they’re a part of our team. The girls help them grow and get better and they help the girls grow and get better. They sort of just jumped right in. They’re so mature, respectful, and have been coming ever day, so I’m giving them credit for wanting to be a part of this process.”
The Thunderbirds have had a few different tennis coaches in recent years, and Athletic Director Kory Kevorkian hopes that Matt’s hiring puts an end to that. Matt feels confident that he’s going to stick around for the long haul.
“There has been a lot of turnover at North Branford and I don’t think that’s a secret. Numbers have been down because tennis isn’t a secondary sport for a lot of our athletes; it’s an afterthought,” says Matt. “Kory gave me an unbelievable opportunity. He gave me the keys to the Porsche and asked that I say committed and focused. I gave him my word that I would.”
Kevorkian says he loves the enthusiasm that Matt displays while working with the Thunderbirds.
“Matt has done a great job with the program thus far. He has a great rapport with the kids and his passion and enthusiasm for the game are evident,” says Kevorkian. “He is also quick to ask questions in an effort to make sure that school protocol is being followed. This is something you don’t always see much of with new coaches. He has been a pleasure to work with this spring.”
Matt made his intentions clear to his players and parents before the season started. Seeing that he loves tennis so much, Matt wants his athletes to feel the same way and serve as the foundation for a successful program down the road.
“I play with passion, so that’s how I want them to play. I’d like for them to stay passionate and be students of the game. Most importantly, I want them to find a way to love the game—not just come out and play for a varsity letter. From there, we want to build and do it together,” says Matt, who praises the efforts of his assistant coaches, Liz Caplan and Joe Capetta. “They understand they’re a part of something bigger than the 2017 season. To me, that is special because that’s hard to swallow, especially for the seniors. We’re going to build a program here and every student on the team has to know they’re going to be a part of the foundation. Nothing makes me more proud then when they buy in. We’re moving in the right direction and quickly, and that’s a testament to them.”
Matt owns a vast tennis background. He grew up playing the sport and was a member of the varsity squad at West Haven High School. After graduating, he was a founder of the tennis club at Southern Connecticut State University. Matt has also spent tons of time playing at racquet clubs in Guilford and Madison, in addition to attending a tennis conference in Georgia, where he earned his certificate in tennis training from the International Tennis Performance Association. Matt is now taking what he’s learned from these experiences and passing that knowledge on to his current cast of T-Birds.
“It’s very well-known in the tennis community—tennis is a game of movement. If you’re in control and know where you’re going, you’ll be in great position,” says Matt. “It’s tennis-specific training. It’s not going to the gym and lifting weights. It’s understanding the muscles and movements to a tennis game and how to manipulate your body in tight spaces. I take that information and apply it, giving that knowledge to my players. It’s a huge aspect of tennis.”
As Matt enters the home stretch of his first year at North Branford, he feels eager to put his stamp on the program and see what he and his players can accomplish together in the years to come.
“I’m just worried about the kids on the court giving their all. That’s my motivation. I’m trying to give that right back to them. I don’t like losing and sometimes I’m tough, but when that happens, they put their heads down and work harder. I go home every day and know why I took this job. I couldn’t be a in a better situation,” says Matt. “I’m more than excited and happy to have the opportunity to help grow the boys’ and girls’ program and just tennis at North Branford.”