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06/15/2022 12:00 AMSophia Padro put together an excellent season as a top player in the singles lineup for the North Haven girls’ tennis team as a freshman this year. Sophia was relied upon due to her tennis experience prior to high school and went on to enjoy tremendous success at the No. 2 singles spot with the Nighthawks.
Sophia’s performance helped guide North Haven to an overall record of 15-7 with appearances in both the SCC and Class L State tournaments this spring. At the end of the season, Sophia was named North Haven’s Most Valuable Player.
Sophia started playing tennis with her father when she was six. Sophia’s dad had taught her older sister Nina how to play the sport, and Sophia wanted to follow in those footsteps. Sophia had a strong urge to play at a young age, and her love for the game has only grown in the ensuing years.
“I was so jealous. Me, as a six year-old, we just started playing for fun, and it was so hard at first,” says Sophia. “I wanted to copy my sister, and so I did, and I actually grew a love for tennis.”
Sophia learned a lot about tennis by playing for fun with her father and sister. Leading up to high school, Sophia was excited about the opportunity to compete for a team and represent her town as a member of the Nighthawks.
“I actually had a team to commit to this year,” Sophia says. “The team is so supportive, and I didn’t think I would have that much fun with a school sport, but all the work ended up paying off.”
Sophia’s strong play led to success for both herself and her team during the 2022 season. The freshman’s game continually improved as she gained experience through the course of the campaign. Sophia became a better player while taking on some of best competitors in the state at the No. 2 singles position.
“I kind of love the pressure that tennis gives you,” says Sophia. “For example, in tournaments, I love when there’s someone better than me that I’m playing, because I’m challenging myself.”
Sophia enjoyed competing against talented players while also building relationships with her opponents on the other side of the court. Sophia appreciates how high school tennis gives her an opportunity to form bonds with people that she might not have met otherwise.
“You get competitive when you’re playing them, but in the end, they’re good hitting partners. I just exchanged numbers with them, and I loved meeting the teams and getting to know them better,” Sophia says. “Honestly, I never would have thought I would have talked to some of the people that I talk to now other than when I met them on the tennis team.”
Sophia’s ability to fully immerse herself in high school tennis sets a great example for the other players on the team. Head Coach Bob Migliorini was pleased with how Sophia performed as a freshman and the way she represented the program in all aspects.
“Not only [has Sophia had] a big impact on the court, but off of the court, in terms of her work ethic and her enthusiasm for the game, it’s great that she has that and the other kids see that,” says Migliorini. “Sophia had a tremendous freshman season and won more matches that anyone else, which is why she was chosen to be the MVP of the team for this past season.”
Sophia’s recognition as North Haven’s MVP was impressive and serves as a true testament to her work ethic. While there were some times where she losing in certain matches, Sophia never stopped working, and those efforts paid off for both herself and the Nighthawks.
“Even though that’s nerve-wracking, being down, you could actually do well against the player,” Sophia says. “I won’t stop moving my feet. I will hustle for the ball, even when I’m tired or mentally exhausted.”
With a solid freshman season in the books, Sophia is excited about what’s on the horizon for her sophomore campaign. Coach Migliorini is expecting Sophia to slot into the No. 1 singles spot next year following the graduation of senior captain Ally Vollero. Sophia feels eager to take on an even bigger role for North Haven as the Nighthawks pursue another successful season in 2023.
“What motivates me is seeing the results,” says Sophia. “When I did good on my math test, it made me feel great. In tennis, if I have one tough match, it makes me want to keep practicing, so eventually I could be with top-ranked players on the team or just do good against them.”