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07/19/2018 12:00 AMJordan Caplan has spent time at a couple of different high schools during the past few years. Jordan started off by attending the Cooperative Arts & Humanities High School in New Haven, after which she transferred to North Branford High School for her sophomore year. Jordan didn’t play any sports as a freshman, but when she came to North Branford, she decided to try her hand at a game that her mother has played for years by joining the T-Birds’ girls’ tennis team. Jordan recently completed a solid junior season that saw her notch 12 victories as one of North Branford’s singles players.
“I felt that void my freshman year and wanted to pick up something to keep my mind occupied. I wanted that outlet and, since my mom has been playing tennis forever, I asked her to hit some with me,” Jordan says. “I totally wanted to do this and I really wanted to be on the team. I made it a goal, so I did plenty of clinics, and I was lucky to find something I loved from the start.”
Jordan primarily played doubles for the Thunderbirds during her sophomore season, alternating between the No. 2 and No. 3 pairings. Jordan finished the year with a mark of 5-13, and she says that record wasn’t nearly good enough for her.
“I had a pretty rough season as a sophomore. I lacked a lot of self-confidence and that definitely reflected on the tennis court,” says Jordan. “But I think no matter what, coach was proud of me and saw I was putting the effort in. He always pushed me to do the best I can.”
North Branford girls’ tennis Head Coach Matt Tortora saw a boost in Jordan’s confidence between her sophomore and junior years. Tortora says that Jordan displayed vast improvement on the tennis court this spring as a result of her unrelenting effort throughout the offseason.
“She had many of the foundational skills of a great tennis player, but something was missing. I remember challenging her at the end of the season. I challenged her to set some goals and to express that inner passion that I knew she had on the court,” Tortora says. “Jordan came back a different player, on and off the court. She was a true leader in every sense of the word. She spent the entire offseason working on her game, which is something that I thought was most admirable of a 16 year-old student-athlete. That was inspiring.”
Following her sophomore year, Jordan attended tennis clinics during the summer and also took private lessons. She typically plays four times a week to stay on her game. In terms of her goals for this season, Jordan saw an opening in North Branford’s singles lineup and worked as hard as she could to secure her spot.
“I told my mom that I wanted that spot and I wanted to work at it to show that I can do this. It wasn’t only for the team and my coaches, but also for myself,” Jordan says. “Tennis isn’t just something I’d do on the side. I wanted to make it one of my priorities and prove it’s something I was passionate about. Actions speak louder than words and I showed that. I worked hard and it really paid off.”
When all was said and done, Jordan finished with a record of 12-8 while playing both No. 3 and 4 singles for North Branford this season. She also qualified to compete in the Shoreline Conference Tournament.
“I think that’s one of the many things that really just shocks me. I came out hungry, determined, and I wanted it. I wanted to be productive and someone who gained skill with strokes and confidence with the game,” says Jordan. “My record was one of those displays with how I was able to grow as a tennis player.”
As Jordan looks forward to her senior year, she’s already been named one of North Branford’s captains for the 2019 campaign. Jordan feels quite excited to take on a leadership role with the T-Birds, but more importantly, she’s happy to simply be a member of the North Branford girls’ tennis team.
“I feel lucky to have walked in, where I felt nervous, to now be a leader. This team is an extension of who I am, as is tennis,” Jordan says. “I feel lucky to have those things in one place. I feel at home with the team, whether it’s at practice or a match. Having my teammates is one of the greatest feelings.”