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04/23/2024 11:22 AMGiovanna Silva has always had a knack for athletics. Over the years of partaking in a variety of different circuits, she has grown into a well-rounded athlete that has utilized her skills to help several teams over the last few years. Her contributions with the Westbrook girls’ tennis team and being part of a doubles tandem that has yet to find themselves in the loss column this year have led the squad to much success on the court.
The Westbrook junior has been a member of the tennis team since she was a freshman and has been in love with the game ever since.
“I was inspired to play tennis by Coach Fitzgerald. I had been playing basketball the previous season where she was the assistant coach,” says Giovanna. “She encouraged me to try out a new sport. I am so glad I listened to her because tennis turned out to be my favorite.”
Paula Fitzgerald has been coaching Giovanna in both basketball and tennis since she first stepped onto the scene as that young freshman, and she admires Giovanna’s ability to uplift the spirits of her teammates around her anf spread her love for the game with them.
“What she brings most to the team is her enthusiasm for the game, and as a team member she is always in a great mood and makes everyone else be happy to a part of the team,” says Fitzgerald. “She came to the team three years ago and picked up a nickname— ‘Little G.’ When she joined the basketball team as a freshman, another upperclassman had a first name close to her that we called G. So we had to call her Little G- it stuck and continued in tennis when the same two players were on the tennis team. Now we just call her G.”
Giovanna excels on the basketball court just as much as she shines in tennis, and in addition to both of those athletic ventures, she is also a member of the girls’ soccer team in the fall. Jumping from season to season so rapidly every year can be challenging, as there are little to no breaks for most athletes. Giovanna has found a way to balance her schedule in a way that allows her to take on all her responsibilities while also being able to enjoy some highly crucial social time.
“This is my third season playing back-to-back sports, so my body has adapted to constantly being active,” Giovanna says. “Between school and sports, I make sure to stay very organized. Personally, I like to keep an agenda with everything I have to do after practice. As soon as I get home, I make sure to start my homework with no distractions, so I can be done quicker and have time to spend with my family.”
Last season, Giovanna and the Knights tennis team were the runners-up in the Shoreline Athletic Conference (SLC) Championship. They also made it to the Class S State Championship, where they fell to Old Lyme by a final score of 7-0. As they look to capitalize on last year’s run this spring, Fitzgerald explains that Giovanna is a big reason why they’ve gotten off to such a strong start as a club to increase their chances of reaching their goals.
“She contributes as a solid point for the team. She plays second doubles with Natalie Palumbo, and they played together last year too,” says Fitzgerald. “She came into the season at either singles or doubles, whatever is better for the team. G is a natural athlete and so continues to improve throughout the season, and it will be interesting to see how far she and Natalie can go.”
On April 8, Giovanna and the Knights hosted North Branford and secured a 7-0 win. Giovanna and Palumbo recorded a 6-0 victory in the contest, as they have not lost a matchup yet this year.
In the next match on April 13, the Knights took a 5-2 loss against Old Lyme. However, Giovanna and Palumbo played at the No. 2 doubles spot and won (7-5, 6-4) to continue their dominance.
With the success that Westbrook had on the court last season, Giovanna is looking forward to competing on the postseason stages and showing the world how dominant she and her doubles partner have truly been. Although she is only a junior, Giovanna looks to provide continued leadership for her teammates by utilizing her experience and overall knowledge of the game, particularly when it comes to guiding the younger athletes and helping them to stay motivated and on track for the remainder of the campaign.
“This year, I can lead the team with my experience by making sure to communicate with everyone, especially the incoming freshmen who are new to the sport,” says Giovanna. “I also make sure to lead by example, being a role model, and always being willing to help anyone who needs it.”