Bethany Hammond of St. Dominic Academy returns a shot during her Round-of-16 match at the MPA singles tennis tournament at Colby College in Waterville on Saturday.
To sum up Bethany Hammond’s high school tennis career at St. Dominic Academy, one needs only a word: Consistency.
The Stonehill College commit made it all the way to the state singles final four all four years. This year, she made it to the semifinals where she fell to Rosemary Campanella of Kennebunk-Wells, 6-1, 6-2.
To make the final four this year, she had to make a choice after her first match of the tournament: continue or forfeit to be with her classmates for project graduation. She chose to challenge the state singles bracket one more time after finishing as a runner-up as a sophomore to Olivia Leavitt of Falmouth. She reached the semifinals by defeating Lizzy Michaud (Lewiston), Eva Sachs (Thornton Academy), and Kira Wolpow (Brunswick).
“I had the support of the whole team behind me and my other coaches, family, so it was a nice experience having them all of them behind me for these four years,” Hammond said. “I looked forward not only playing for me, but for them so they can come out and watch. It’s been truly a blessing to play these four years.”
Despite not winning a singles title, her coach was pleased with the effort she put up in all four years
“It would have (been nice), but I am proud of her,” St. Dom’s coach Andrew Girouard said after the loss to Campanella. “She did a phenomenal job all four years.”
In the team tournament, she help lead the Saints to another Class C regional final appearance, where they fell to Waynflete despite a 6-0, 6-4 win for Hammond at No. 1 singles over Lexi Epstein.
Unlike last season, when St. Dom’s went undefeated in the Mountain Valley Conference, the Saints moved to the Western Maine Conference this season and battled to an 8-4 record and the No. 7 seed in the regional tourney.
Hammond liked the challenge of facing new opponents this year.
“There was definitely more competition for me,” Hammond said. “Not just for me, but my team as well. For all of us, even though it was our last year, it was good to see different competition.”
Hammond’s consistent play and exemplary record have earned for her another accolade as the Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.
nfournier@sunjournal.com
2017 Sun Journal All-Region Girls’ Tennis
FIRST TEAM
Bethany Hammond, St. Dom’s, Sr., Singles
Megan Chamberland, Winthrop, Sr., Singles
Lizzy Michaud, Lewiston, Sr., Singles
Maeve Hickey, Mt. Blue, So., Doubles
Brianna Jackson, Mt. Blue, Jr. Doubles
Molly Chicoine, Lewiston, Fr. Doubles
Roslyn Wailus, Lewiston, Fr. Doubles
SECOND TEAM
Sarah Sparh, Winthrop, Sr. Singles
Chloe Morin, Lewiston, Sr. Singles
Cassidy Tibbetts, Oak Hill, Sr., Singles
KK Linck, St. Dom’s, Sr., Doubles
Kassaundra Stacy, St. Dom’s, Sr. Doubles
Nora Conrad, Winthrop, So., Doubles
Gabby Blanco, Winthrop, Fr., Doubles
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