With a complete upperclassman varsity team led by captain Julie Page and coach Nate Silberstein, the Talawanda girls’ tennis team boasts an 9-4 record this season, crediting their success to strong team chemistry.

Julie Page, Talawanda senior, first picked up tennis just three years ago when Patrick Fete offered a clinic at her country club, and she decided to give it a try on a whim. Now, as captain of the team and playing second singles, Page boasts a killer backhand and hopes to lead her squad to another SWOC conference championship.

“This is my second year playing second singles, so I’m excited for that,” Page said. “And I think I’m better at it this year, which is nice. I’m just excited to hang out with everyone for the final time. I really like everyone on the team. I got to pick out the uniforms too, which was fun.” 

Going into his second year of coaching girls’ and boys’  varsity tennis, Nate Silberstein highlights that this year’s team is dominant on all sides due to the number of strong players on the team. The downside? They will lose six of the 16 girls between the varsity and JV teams after this season, and he admits he’s concerned about recruiting for next year.

“I’ve tried to recruit a couple of girls on my skating team,” said Page. “It’s hard, like, being able to play. It’s pretty easy to learn, but to be able to continue to play is a lot harder.”

Talawanda doesn’t have a middle school program, although Oxford does have tennis courts. “I do work at the middle school when I shadow, and I have this picture (Tennis composite photo) in my classroom there as well,” Silberstein said. “I do get some kids that way, but we just don’t have a great feeder program. We’re very up and down, ebb and flow at Talawanda.” 

Silberstein shared exciting updates about the conference after previously expressing that he felt Talawanda had outgrown the Southwest Ohio Conference (SWOC). The team recently accepted an invitation to join the Southwest Buckeye League (SWBL) next season, making this their final year in the SWOC.

“It will include more competition and familiar foes,” Silberstein said.  “Ross will be there and Edgewood, who used to be in the SWOC with us. There will be schools that are kind of far like Bellbrook, which is in Dayton.” 

Silberstein said he is proud of the team this year as they have unmatched potential as long as “they keep their confidence up.”

He highlights the first singles player Abby Curry, the team’s best player, who demonstrates remarkable humility.

“It’s incredible to have an anchor, you know, because we got her at one singles playing those matches, and that just allows everything down to free up,”  said Silberstein. 

Although Silberstein praises his singles players, he emphasizes that it’s just as much the doubles teams that keep the squad moving full speed ahead as they prepare for their rival match against Harrison on Sept. 18 and the SWOC tournament on Sept. 26. The team wins the contest at a school if it wins three or more of its matchups.

“My doubles have been like lights out,” Silberstein said.  “This year, they have like, 10 wins and two losses or something. They’ve just been really incredible. I do not take the season for granted at all, not just because we’re, like, good talent-wise, but because the girls are just awesome. It’s so easy to coach, and it’s just a pleasure.”