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05/03/2018 12:00 AMSofia Cavalier was new to tennis when she joined the girls’ team at North Branford High School as a freshman, and she’s quickly become one of top players on the Thunderbirds. After splitting time between doubles and No. 4 singles last spring, the sophomore moved up to No. 2 singles this year and is 10-0 through her first 10 matches.
Sofia says that putting in extra time at the Madison Racquet & Swim Club during the offseason has greatly improved her game.
“I started private lessons with a coach at Madison Racquet & Swim Club, and I did public clinics. It really helped me develop as a player,” says Sofia. “With all the lessons, I was able to learn strategies and techniques to be a better player. It really helped me grow from last year significantly.”
Sofia says that she’s become more and more comfortable on the court during her tenure with the T-Birds. Sofia was a little nervous when she first stepped into the singles lineup, but she adjusted to flying solo, and has been racking up the victories ever since.
“At first, it was kind of scary, because I was only just a freshman and didn’t have any experience or anything. Moving to No. 4 singles, I was excited, but scared, because I didn’t know how I’d perform,” Sofia says. “Since playing singles last year, I learned how to play the position, and now I’m much more comfortable. Moving to No. 2 singles is tougher competition, but I like the challenge, and I’m able to adapt and become a better player.”
Head Coach Matt Tortora is impressed with how far Sofia has come in a short amount of time and loves the energy that she brings to the T-Birds. Although Sofia is only a sophomore, Tortora says she’s displaying excellent leadership qualities for his squad.
“Every coach wants and needs a Sofia Cavalier on their team. She plays with tenacity every time she hits the court, but most importantly, she is never simply satisfied with winning. She quietly analyzes and critiques her game, so she can continuously improve,” Tortora says. “She has also set an example as to what a dedicated and focused offseason could do for a student-athlete. She came back humbled and hungry and is not shy about leading by example. I am very proud of her as a [second-year tennis player]. She is just scratching the surface.”
Sofia, who also plays volleyball at North Branford, says that she’s learned a lot about how to play a complete match and make her opponents work since becoming a member of the tennis team.
“I’m pretty good at having a set strategy and use that in order to keep up with my opponent and be able to use that strategy to play my kind of game and win,” she says. “I’m a very scrappy player and able to get to balls that are harder to get to. With that, I’m able to play out more points.”
With two seasons still to go, Sofia feels excited about what’s ahead in her high-school tennis career. While she’s off to a stellar start, Sofia knows that she needs to keep putting in the necessary work to get even better for her junior and senior seasons.
“I never thought I’d grow as much as I did since I had no formal experience before [high school],” says Sofia. “I like the idea of playing by myself and being able to fix myself in order to become a better player. I will do anything to become the best tennis player that I can be.”
One thing Sofia loves about tennis is that she can continue playing the sport beyond high school. Sofia hasn’t really thought too much about whether she wants to compete in college, but she’s planning to stay on the court one way or the other.
“When we’re at our court, I always see older people playing, and it makes me happy knowing I will be able to play for pretty much my whole life,” Sofia says. “I love to see them still be able to play, move, and enjoy the sport. It gives me hope for the future and what I can do with it.”