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05/04/2022 12:00 AMWhen Will de Chabert joined the Hand boys’ tennis team, he knew that there were going to be big expectations on his shoulders. The Tigers have a storied program with a long history of success, and Will wanted to keep that winning tradition going.
Now a senior captain, Will can confidently say that he and his teammates have accomplished that goal. Will helped the Tigers enjoy back-to-back undefeated regular seasons and win a pair of SCC championships during his first two campaigns with the program.
The wins continue to come for Will and company this year as Hand is sporting a record of 8-1 for the 2022 season. Will and fellow senior Will Fumex are having a great year playing the No. 1 doubles position for the Tigers.
“My expectations for this year are to win SCC Division I for a fourth-consecutive year and to make a solid run in Class L states. Furthermore, I would like to reach at least the semifinals of this year’s individual tournament,” says Will. “This year is going very well. My partner William Fumex and I have won a couple of close matches in three sets, which has boosted our confidence and resilience.”
Will is never going to forget that feeling of helping Hand claim the SCC Division I title in his freshman season. It was an amazing way to Will to begin his career with a team that’s seen a plethora of success.
“My favorite memory was winning SCCs my freshman year,” says Will. “I had never before experienced such an intense exclamation of passion and joy before, and winning SCCs was incredible.”
Will has a record of 43-1 during his career with the Hand boys’ tennis team. After contributing to an SCC three-peat last year, Will helped the Tigers advance to the semifinal round of the Class L State Tournament. After that, Will and then-senior Reilly Vejar teamed up to reach to the championship match of the doubles bracket at the Individual Invitational Tournament. When all was said and done, Will was selected to the All-SCC Division I Team and also earned All-State honors for his performance as a junior.
“Coming so close to states was a really awesome experience. To know how well our team did and how everyone fought to the very end was inspiring. We continue to get better every time out as a team,” Will says. “Being selected for All-SCC and All-State means that I have been able to perform at my best abilities all season. It was an honor and something that I don’t take lightly.”
Will credits much of his success on the tennis court to Head Coach Dawn Fagerquist, who has been working with the senior captain since the outset of his career at Hand. Will says that Coach Fagerquist’s constant support has been a driving factor behind him developing his skills as a tennis player.
“She is extremely supportive of all her starters and dedicated to improving the games of the non-starters. She does all she can with every situation, and that’s all that can be asked,” says Will of Fagerquist. “During our season, we play five to six times per week, so the continuous play keeps me improving my game. I love being a part of a team that is determined and passionate as I am.”
Along with tennis, Will enjoys skiing and running. In his free time, Will likes to hang out with his friends and go for drives in his car with the music blasting. He also enjoys watching the New York Yankees and going for boat rides during the summertime.
Will plans on attending St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York after he graduates from Hand. Will is going to major in conservation biology at the school.
“I have an interest in the outdoors, and I can’t wait to go to St. Lawrence next year,” Will says. “It will be a great opportunity to continue my passion.”
After losing his sophomore season to the COVID-19 pandemic, Will appreciates that the Tigers have been able to get back out there on the courts these last two years. It means everything to Will that he gets to play tennis as he enters the home stretch of his tenure with the Hand boys’ tennis program.
“Since tennis is a low-contact sport, I have felt extremely comfortable playing tennis during the pandemic,” says Will. “I am super glad I have been able to play and am excited to see how we finish out our season.”