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05/04/2022 12:00 AMAs she watched her sister Yasmin play for the North Haven girls’ tennis team, Zeena Mohamed decided that she wanted to give the sport a shot. During the past four years, Zeena has carved out her own niche at North Haven, culminating with her competing for the Nighthawks’ No. 1 doubles team as a senior this spring.
Yasmin was a senior during Zeena’s freshman year. As a member of the No. 3 doubles team, Yasmin often played up close to the net. Zeena always admired that strategy and wanted to mirror her game after her sister.
“My older sister was on the team, and we would play tennis in the summer sometimes. I decided I should try it out. I’ll just try it and see if I get better,” says Zeena. “She was an awesome net player and I was obsessed with her volley. I tried to develop the same skill set she had. Now I love playing net. It’s probably my strength in tennis.”
Zeena spent her freshman season at the JV level and appreciated the freedom that JV gave her. Zeena watched the older players compete and also played in ghost matches on the side. Zeena was able to grow without having any pressure on her as she learned the game of tennis.
Still, Zeena wanted to be as involved as much as possible as a freshman. She had taken a liking to tennis and decided to dedicate herself to the sport. Zeena attended every practice that she could in a quest to become the best tennis player she could be.
“Freshman year, I was still learning. I wasn’t that great at it. But I kept at it because I enjoyed it. By the end of freshman season, I really enjoyed it,” Zeena says. “I went to every match and every practice I could go to, Saturday morning practices. I just always tried to get practice in and try to get better.”
After seeing her sophomore season get canceled, Zeena returned to North Haven as a junior with a promotion to the varsity level. She was playing No. 3 doubles alongside her partner Noelle Carmody. Zeena turned to her inspiration for guidance. As Yasmin had played No. 3 doubles in her senior year, Zeena was constantly calling her sister to get advice.
“It was a little nerve-wracking in the beginning. But I got advice from my sister, who was away at college at the time,” says Zeena. “I called her all the time, and I still do, to talk about tennis. It was cool to fill in her shoes.”
While she loved playing at her sister’s position in the lineup, Zeena was happy to make the jump to No. 1 doubles as a senior. Zeena and Carmody, who is also a senior this year, have filled the top doubles spot all season for the Nighthawks. Zeena says that she and Carmody were ready for a higher level of competition this season.
“Making the jump from No. 3 doubles to No. 1 doubles is definitely scary, knowing that I’m playing against even better players than I was last year. But I’ve improved, my partner has improved,” Zeena says. “This is such a great team. I see a good future for us.”
Zeena has been a doubles player throughout her career. Zeena likes doubles since she can play up close to the net and also because she enjoys working with other people. Head Coach Bob Migliorini says that those two traits are among some of the biggest strengths that Zeena brings to the Nighthawks.
“Zeena is a role model for the other players in terms of work ethic and a no-nonsense approach to the game,” says Migliorini. “Her volleying skills are outstanding, which make her one of the best doubles players on the team.”
As she looks back at her four years at North Haven, Zeena remembers the big wins, such as when she and Carmody helped the Nighthawks defeat rival Cheshire earlier this season. However, what Zeena will remember the most is just how much she and teammates have grown on the courts.
“I got to the end, and it was worth all of the hard work that I’ve put in. Every year, I’ve been on the team, we have progressed and gotten further into states,” Zeena says. “We’ve just had a better dynamic. Getting to experience all of that has been great.”
Zeena will be attending Barnard College of Columbia University in New York City. She is hoping to continue playing tennis at the club level or just for fun.
As a four-year member of the program, Zeena has realized what it truly means to compete for the North Haven girls’ tennis team. Zeena feels about proud how far the team has come during her time in the program and says that she’ll be rooting for the Nighthawks long after graduation.
“It means being a support system for other people, being someone others can talk to,” Zeena says. “It has been great playing here at North Haven. I can’t wait to see how the team progresses even after I leave.”