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05/05/2023 08:50 AMFor Payton Kamienski, she truly sees the micro-level impact of individuals’ actions on the macro stage that is a total team’s success–an observation she has taken to heart and worked her way up to being not only a three-sport athlete, but additionally a three-squad captain for North Branford High School.
The Thunderbirds senior took part in soccer, dancing, and gymnastics in her younger ages. Payton, also a captain of the Class S state-champion field hockey team this past fall for North Branford and also for the girls’ indoor track squad, earned a starting slot on the tennis team as a young sophomore and has now worked her way up the ladder to senior stewardship status as a captain and the No. 1 singles player for the T-Birds.
“I have spent a lot of time in the offseason practicing with my sister and my entire family. I also constantly practice the skills I struggle with, because it gives me an advantage by improving on those skills,” says Payton with respect to her craft on the court. “I feel very proud and happy my teams have recognized me with the honor of being captain. It was also great in leading and helping teams reach their goals. As captain, I have seen the importance of wanting and earning that goal of helping the team succeed and seeing the results of that.”
Payton proclaims that while on the surface, field hockey and tennis may seem like very contrasting sports in practicality, but regardless of going for goals or points, both of them showcase the importance of overall solid morale to motivate peers on a club.
“Field hockey and tennis have shown me that communication and working as a unit are key,” Payton says. “You still need that team chemistry with tennis even though it is very much an individual sport, because you need everyone excited about the game and the team. The players need to feel encouraged and encourage others.”
Following no freshman season on the courts due to COVID, Payton worked her way up the solo slate for the T-Birds–moving to No. 4 singles as a sophomore before occupying the No. 2 slot a year later for her junior campaign. While experiencing the true physical chess match that is singles tennis, Payton displays the knowledge that the war of the mind must be waged outward rather than inward.
“Singles can be very difficult because you need to know the rules and when to stand up for yourself in case there is an issue about a point or set score,” says Payton. “You can control every point in singles, which is both an advantage and disadvantage. You can also change your play style to match your opponent. Throughout the years, I have focused on specific skills to work on. You also have to look at the bigger picture and not stress out over every single point of a match.”
T-Birds’ girls’ tennis Head Coach Elisabeth Caplan praises Payton for putting her whole body, mind, and spirit into the sport, in addition to having even more left in the tank to take her teammates aside and mentor them in harvesting and crafting their court skills.
“Payton has developed into a formidable player and consummate teammate. She is a thinker and she always puts 100% of herself out there,” says Caplan. “She is laser focused during each match and can outlast any player physically. Payton also takes the time to help her teammates with anything. I have seen her working one-on-one with others, helping them if they are having swing mechanic challenges or need a pep talk. She had worked hard in the offseason to improve her game. Starting as a tennis player as a sophomore is not easy, and she has worked very hard to earn her spot at No. 1 singles; she is a talented athlete. It has been a pleasure to watch Payton grow as a young adult and lead the team by example.”
As North Branford has shown Payton the importance of prioritizing tests and projects over training and practices, she details that each of the squads she was a part of gave her varying vantage points towards the goal of constructing a close-knit club.
“I love the sports teams here at North Branford. They really focus on academics first here, and it is an important mindset I have taken with me,” Payton says. “With each sport, I got a new perspective with different athletes and different coaching styles, and they were all unique perspectives.”
While Payton is setting her sights on the postseason as a solo artist for her send-off spring season, she still looks back at the bigger scope of society in sports and how every single piece of the puzzle plays a pivotal role in shaping every single person’s total experience in a group.
“For the rest of this season, I hope to qualify for the Shoreline Conference Tournament and win enough matches to do so while continuing with learning new skills,” says Payton. “I have seen that everybody contributes to a team in their own ways. Every action contributes to a team’s success, no matter how big or small. One little action can have a big impact on everyone and the entire team as a whole.”