Boys Tennis: Start of the Season

This spring, Malden Golden Tornadoes boys tennis team was welcomed by new coach and MHS physical education teacher Mark Gagnon with new goal and high expectations. This year’s team is looking forward to getting a good record and possibly even exceeding their record from last year.

Last season, team finished with an overall record of 7-8, unfortunately missing the playoffs. Returning player, sophomore Thomas Tran states that, “the team has lost all of the key senior players from last year,” and that the team is “completely new this year with only three returning players.” This year they are hoping to improve upon last year and continue to grow as tennis players.

This year boys tennis team is lead by junior Victor Teague. He mentions that “as there are a lot of new players one of the challenges is to discipline them with cardio and workouts.” Teague was scared last year thinking  MHS was not going to have tennis season this year since bunch of players graduated last year however he was very happy that they were able to create a team and get back to the court.

When asked about what inspired Gagnon to be a tennis coach he credited to his passion of tennis and he was also a tennis player of MHS class of 1993.  When asked about the challenges of this season he stated that, “one that [the team] overcame was number of the players because the [team] wanted to make sure they have at least over ten players.”  He explains that “it’s challenging to have bunch of new players,” however he has great expectations for the three returning players.  

The Golden Tornadoes will facing its first game on April 10th against Lynn English Bulldogs  at Lynn English High.

About the Author

Subin Bastola

Contributor

Having been in America for only 15 months, Subin Bastola is a senior at Malden High who took interest in The Blue and Gold considering his passion for writing, adapting new dexterity, and reading the news itself. Bastola’s interests include activities such as playing and watching soccer, reading books, listening to music, and watching movies, like his favorite: Groundhog Day. Bastola was born in and came from Nepal, where as his father lived in America for seven years. Back in Nepal “things are very different” Bastola says. Instead of students moving from class to class like they do at Malden High, they stay seating while the teachers transfer. “Exams are a lot harder,” announces Bastola. They also have no lockers, so carrying eight books around is a hustle. Bastola learned to speak English in Nepal, where he wrote poems and acclimated the ways and fundamentals of writing. With regulations such as restrictions to growing long hair and having a dress code, Bastola has gotten accustomed to the new school system. Although Bastola doesn’t know that many people in the Blue and Gold yet, he is looking forward to integrating and making new friends in his graduating year at Malden High.

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