Winchester Girls Win North, Vineyard Up Next For State Title

NORTH READING, Ma. - The Division 2 North girls' tennis title was clinched Wednesday by a player who just a few months ago wasn't sure she could get on the court for Winchester this spring.

With the Sachems (20-1) up a quick 2-0 thanks to a sweep of the doubles, senior captain Nicole Costales secured a second straight 5-0 win over Newburyport with a 6-0, 6-2 win at third singles. Costales continued her unbeaten season for the Sachems, who will now play Martha's Vineyard in a rematch for the Division 2 state title on Tuesday.

Unbeaten with one match left before heading to Washington University in St. Louis, Costales was happy to bring the MIAA trophy back to Winchester.

"I'm really excited. I finally got a chance to show off my talents," said Costales.

There are no secrets to her 2019 success, after playing some as a junior in 2018 for the Sachems.

"I think I really improved from playing all the matches. I worked a lot harder and really wanted to earn my spot this year."

But an unbeaten season?

"Ya, that surprised me. I didn't go into this season with many expectations. I really excited about that."

Now the focus is on Martha's Vineyard, which barely beat Dover-Sherborn, 3-2, in Wednesday's South final. For senior captains and No. 1 doubles teammates Taylor Kenrich and Lauren Chilton, it's a match they've been waiting for since losing in last year's state final, 4-1. For the record, Winchester's one win came from Kenrich and Chilton at second doubles.

"We're really hungry for Martha's Vineyard next," said the Holy Cross-bound Chilton after the 6-2, 6-1 win. "We faced them last year and lost so we really want to win this year."

"Newburyport is a good team but we know we're going to upgrade our competition down the road," said Kenrich, who will attend Tulane.

Winchester's other wins came at second doubles with sophomore's Grace Thompson and Maddy Tahnk winning 6-2, 6-0; at first singles, with sophomore Caroline Fredey winning 6-4, 6-2; and at second singles in the longest match of the day with sophomore Olivia DeMichaelis winning 6-2, 5-7, 10-4.

Wednesday's sectional title followed Tuesday's sectional title won by the boys' volleyball team. The Sachems will go for three North trophies on Friday when the boys' lacrosse team plays Billerica.

Tuesday's state final tennis match will be held at St. John's of Shrewsbury.