An undefeated season, Class LL state champions, FCIAC champions. Indeed, it was an absolutely perfect season for the Greenwich High School varsity girls tennis team, which became both conference and state champions for the first time since 2009.
Greenwich put the cherry on top of the sundae when it defeated rival Staples, 4-0, in the championship match of the CIAC Class LL Tennis Tournament, earning a sweet repeat in the state tournament, while capping a storybook 22-0 season.
The second-seeded Cardinals captured their 12th state title in program history with an impressive 4-0 victory over fifth-seeded Staples in the CIAC Class Tournament final at Joel Barlow High School in Redding.
The Cardinals also defeated Staples for the state tournament title in 2024, also posting a 4-0 triumph.
“It feels amazing, I couldn’t think of a better way to end the season my senior year,” said Greenwich senior captain Emme Pecorin, who won her match against Staples at No. 2 doubles with junior partner Maddy Wilber. “I’m very excited and so proud of this team.”
Greenwich, which advanced to the Class LL Tournament final by topping third-seeded Fairfield Ludlowe, 4-1, in the semifinals on June 3, received victories at second and third singles and second and third doubles in the state title match versus the Wreckers. The No. 1 and No. 4 singles matches and third doubles match were not completed, because GHS clinched the match, overall, by winning four matches.
Junior Caitlin Mahoney won the clinching match at No. 2 singles for the Cards. Mahoney defeated her Staples High School opponent, 6-0, 6-1 and immediately after she won the final point, the members of the Cardinals squad, rushed the court in celebration of their second straight state title and undefeated season.
“It feels surreal, the second I joined my group I started crying, I’m in disbelief that it’s the end of the season with my team,” said Greenwich senior captain Yume Inagawa, who played at first doubles with sophomore Cameron Sowter.
Mahoney, who won all of her matches at second singles for the Cardinals, was the aggressor and in control throughout her match against Staples.
“It went really well, I just worked on being consistent with every shot, moving my opponent from side to side and it really paid off,” Mahoney said.
She had an inkling that her match could be the one that clinched the state title for the Cards.
“I definitely felt in the end, the momentum, because I knew three matches had finished and I was the fourth one,” Mahoney noted. “So, that was definitely an exciting moment.”
Senior Izzy Everett was victorious at third singles for Greenwich, registering a 6-1, 6-1 win over her Wreckers foe. Everett also won her singles match versus Staples in the state title match one season ago.
“It feels awesome, because me and Emme and Yume – the captains – have been working for four years, trying every year to win a title,” Everett said. “We finally won one last year, but we wanted both. So, we came here today and did it and it really meant a lot. It shows how far we came as a team.”
“I wanted to be one of the four that won, so it was also really nice to do that,” Everett added.
At No. 1 singles, junior Shining Sun won her first set against Staples, 6-3 and the second set was tied at 1-1 when the match was halted since GHS clinched the team victory. Sun was especially pleased for the squad’s seniors.
“It feels really good, they are the seniors that have been here from the start, so this is the perfect sendoff to give them,” Sun said.
Fourth singles saw Avery Li take her first set against her Staples opponent, 5-2 and her match was still in progress when the Cardinals clinched the team triumph. Inagawa and Sowter, Greenwich’s undefeated No. 1 doubles team, posted a 6-3 win in the opening set versus the Wreckers and were in their second set in their unfinished match.
Inagawa and Sowter will compete in the CIAC Invitational, which begins on Sunday at Conard High School. The Cardinals’ successful duo are the defending CIAC Invitational doubles champions.
“I’m excited, because me and Cameron won and we have a good shot to defend our title,” Inagawa noted. “We just have to take the time off we have between now and Invitationals and take care of ourselves and rest.”
Pecorin and Wilber concluded another undefeated season at second doubles. They notched a 6-0, 6-1 win over Staples at the No. 2 spot.
“This year we’ve had the best season we’ve had in a really long time,” Pecorin said. “Especially for my last year, that’s been amazing.”
“This has been a really great run,” Wilber said. “We have been playing for so long and we just really wanted to get that perfect season.”
Winning two titles this spring was, indeed, one of the Cards’ main 2025 goals.
“We were really close last year, but we weren’t quite there, so this made it a really nice way to end the seniors’ senior year,” Wilber said.
Pecorin/Wilber also won their match against Staples in the 2024 Class LL title match. In the No. 3 doubles matchup, juniors Bella Barban and Oliva Popp were 6-1, 6-0 winners for GHS.
“It’s definitely very emotional,” Popp said. “For the past four years, we’ve gotten so close, like last year during FCIACs and then states, we finally won it all. But it’s been so long since we’ve won both in a row. It’s sad to watch our seniors leave, but we’re just so proud of this team. We couldn’t have done it without everyone.”
The Cardinals’ No. 3 doubles team has progressed significantly since last season, becoming a force this spring.
“I think we both played pretty well,” Barban said. “Our communication skills have really gone up since our freshman year and I’m really proud that we were able to do this.”
“It feels really good to be one of the four to win for our team,” Barban continued. “We didn’t play last year, so going from not playing last year to winning one of the four – it felt really good.”
For the season, Greenwich registered an eye-opening record of 22-0, while sweeping/shutting out, 18 of its opponents.
“I’m speechless, what can I say,” Greenwich coach Jerry Sulli said. “The fact is, 12 of the 15 matches in the regular season were shutouts. This team was just incredible.”
The Cardinals went 4-0 in the Class LL Tournament, while playing four matches in four days.
“The way they were focused for four matches in four straight days and going 4-0 – it’s a testament to their character,” Sulli said of his squad. “They played well together, they encouraged each other. I’m so fortunate to be coach of this team.”
Winning the Class LL title added state championship No. 12 to Greenwich’s resume. The Cardinals’ other state championships came in 2024, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1990 and 1989.
“It feels really great, I’m really proud of everyone,” Mahoney said following Greenwich’s latest championship win versus Staples. “I don’t think I could have asked for a better end to the season. It was the perfect season.”
Sun paid tribute to the Cardinals’ seniors.
“The seniors are the core of the program,” she said. “They are always there motivating us. They bring so much liveliness to the team.”
After Greenwich’s Class LL championship victory, Sun reflected on a season the team will always cherish.
“It’s been an amazing season,” Sun said. “Regardless of what happens next season and far into my life – 20 years from now, I’ll still remember this feeling. We did it and we proved to ourselves that we could do it.”
