“This team is the best team I could possibly ask for.”
That statement came from captain Brianna Stewart (‘26) when asked about her experiences during the 2024-2025 season. Stewart and her teammates finished the season with a conference championship and a 4A East runner-up finish, a credit to their hard work and persistent motivation. The GH Falcon recently spoke with two of the team’s three captains, Brianna Stewart and Tia Chaurasiya (‘25), as well as coach Nate Denton to inquire about this past season and its impact on Green Hope tennis for years to come.
Coach Denton stepped up when the season was approaching and the team was without a coach. Although it was his first, and likely last, season with women’s tennis, he was quickly exposed to the benefits attached. “[My favorite part of coaching was] seeing the girls, the old and the new, come together,” Denton shared. “A lot of our talented incoming freshmen got a lot of leadership and a lot of quality passed down from the girls that had been here and understood.” This leadership often played out in matches, aiding the team in their frequent wins throughout the season. This was specifically seen in the team’s home match versus Panther Creek, which happens to be a highlight in Denton’s coaching season. “[My] favorite match would be Panther Creek the first time,” said Denton. “ We were not very fortunate last year and Panther Creek finished in front of us, and not only did we beat Panther Creek [this year], but we played them here for the first time, but it was definitive, we absolutely won the close matches and we blew them out.”
Alongside the leadership qualities witnessed, Denton’s team frequently portrayed a strong, unified dynamic that helped create a beneficial environment for success. In his eyes, the word that best describes his team is “equal,” creating an ideal setting for fostering relationships between teammates. “I think equal is probably the best word where I didn’t think anybody, even though they were considerably stronger in terms of their skill level, thought they were better,” Denton said. “As people, I thought that dynamic was really good.”
In terms of team dynamics, captain Brianna Stewart expresses similar feelings to Coach Denton. “Our dynamic is supportive and loving,” she said. “We cheer each other on, we help each other through the tough losses, we build each other up. We are all super close. I honestly cannot express how much this team means to me.” Stewart has played tennis for 10 years, since age six, and has been a member of Green Hopes women’s tennis since her freshman year. High school tennis has been an influential part of her life, granting her opportunities and learning experiences that she wouldn’t otherwise encounter. “It is a great experience for me, as tennis is a notoriously individual sport and high school tennis provides an amazing team environment” she shared.
As for unpredictability and upsets, Stewart was able to achieve many hard-fought wins. “I had a great match against Caralyn Izod of Apex Friendship and won in straight sets. Me and Betty won our doubles match against Panther Creek convincingly, which was not expected going into the match,” Stewart said. The same applies to her teammates, which she notes were equally as successful. “Emma Fischer beat a girl from Panther Creek two times during the season, both in third-set tiebreakers. Jenna Lipkin won her singles match against Panther Creek to avenge a previous loss and also beat the Green Level #1 player in the individual competition. Emma Fischer and Aaliyah Green won their doubles match against Broughton during the postseason, which was amazing. And Aaliyah Green also won her singles match against Panther Creek in a third-set tiebreaker. In case you couldn’t tell, Panther Creek was a huge rival this year, and we beat them all three times.” Similarly to Denton, Stewart shares the love of their Panther Creek defeat. “When we beat Panther Creek in the postseason match, it came down to the very last doubles match, and we pulled it out. It was very exciting and I’m so proud of Ella (Smith) and Tanishka (Peddy).”
Alongside the Panther Creek match, Stewart shares many other favorites from the season, including team sleepovers, senior night, and team dinners. “I have so many favorite memories from this season,” she said. “Our sleepover was fun and a great team-bonding experience. Media day was really fun because we all did our hair and makeup and got creative with our photos. Senior night, though sad, was an awesome experience where we celebrated everything our seniors have done. I loved making it to individual states with my partner Betty Xia and the Team Regionals Final. And lastly, of course, the team dinner was amazing and we had a great time celebrating our amazing season.”
Although Stewart has one more year, the 2024-2025 season meant the end of a high school career for senior captain Tia Chaurasiya. Despite no longer being able to play as a Falcon in the coming years, her legacy is influential for many classes of athletes to come. “I hope that the bond that we have right now on the team continues to live on in the future and that there’s nothing that separates the team since we are really close as a team currently, and I hope that everyone is welcoming to the freshman next year and that we remain welcoming to anyone new on the team,” Chaurasiya said. “I hope this continues into the future years and we can hopefully win a state championship next year or in the future years.”
Chaurasiya has played Green Hope tennis all four years of her high school career but began playing in the 6th grade. After taking a break around COVID, she got back into the sport in time to try out for her freshman year. “I think [Green Hope tennis] helped me become more confident and a good person who involves myself in teamwork more,” Chaurasiya said. “I have built a lot of friendships that I hope carry on years after I graduate, and I just can’t wait to see what the other players on the team accomplish in future years.” Given the benefits it had on her as a person, Chaurasiya encourages younger classmen and other Green Hope students to try out for the team. “I’d say definitely try out, and even if you don’t make the team the first year you try out you should try it again next year.”
The team finished an incredible 2024-25 season, accomplishing goals and passing milestones. The team’s performance paved a promising future for Green Hope tennis, leaving big shoes for future athletes to fill.
