With the arrival of spring comes the arrival of the tennis season. Oratory Tennis is ready to defend their second consecutive conference championship. The tennis program is full of new potential and opportunities; but there is still so much to be answered. One of the biggest questions is whether Oratory Prep can three-peat and put another conference championship trophy on the shelf in DeGaeta Hall.
First, let’s analyze our roster.
Here are our prospects for the Varsity team. Solid as ever, first singles and captain Sam Goodbody is ready to lead the team to its first three-peat conference win in decades. He is the most experienced Varsity player on the team this year, as he joined the team at first doubles during his freshman year and made it to the state tournament. Sol Wright and Thomas Lafrance were an unexpected force at second doubles last season, with Sol coming up from JV and Thomas only picking up the game late in 2023. This season, they are expected to take the first doubles spot and continue their dominance. The addition of Matt Moran gave the team a new face last year, teaming up with the now-alumnus Rome Brachfeld to a powerhouse first doubles. Matt is projected to take either second or third singles this year, a position the team is sure will become an assured victory every time. Expected to join the team this year is Eric Falcone, a freshman with a fiery spirit ready to take the top spot if Sam makes a mistake. His energy and raw ability are sure to boost the team’s morale and record this year. Another new face we believe will join the team is Lucius Brachfeld, brother of the aforementioned Rome Brachfeld. At the moment, he is an unknown element, as his game has not been seen yet by those on the team, but it is reported that he is ready to take his brother’s place and potentially overshadow him. Finally, Marco Bianchi returns as the only senior on the squad. From there, it’s anyone’s game, as multiple prospects such as Marco Buonaiuto, Mike Dragone, and Chris Vardas will have to battle it out to make the team.
Now, let’s take a look at our conference.
Luckily, our biggest competitor, Governor Livingston has moved up a conference and a new team has dropped down: Cranford. Our conference consists of Cranford, Dayton, Roselle Park, and Elizabeth. Our biggest uncertainty is Cranford, who is coming from a stronger division but with a worse record so its is really a toss up. The other teams in our conference don’t seem to be immediate threats as they have stayed the same as last year. Many teams have suffered losses but also received newer players. Oratory is one of those teams. However, we have the ability to easily patch those holes up. Our biggest loss would be 3rd singles Justin DeVomecourt who had an almost flawless record. Fortunately, with the arrival of freshman Eric Falcone, Oratory can keep their record similar to last year and even enhance their chance at a threepeat.
That’s the rundown for our 2025 Varsity Tennis team, which we hope will continue their run of conference wins this year. Go Rams!
