With the 2026 girls tennis season quickly approaching, senior captains Anika Umapathy and Eleni Margetis, are fighting for Walpole High School (WHS) girls tennis to obtain new equipment. For over 10 years, WHS girls tennis athletes have struggled with finding money to put towards the team’s equipment. Margetis, the number one singles varsity player, is motivated to see the team be able to raise more money and voiced her concern on the need for better resources to have a successful year. Umapathy has expressed the team’s lack of motivation in matches due to the absence of fresh equipment. According to Performance Team Sports, fresh equipment for any sport is vital to a team’s success and confidence.
“While skill, strategy and teamwork are essential, the gear you use can make a significant difference in your team’s long-term success. Investing in high-quality sports equipment not only improves player performance but also enhances safety, durability and team morale,” Performance Team Sports said.
In the 2025 season, WHS girls tennis welcomed a new coach, Jasmine Maduel. Straight out of graduating from New York University (NYU) College, Maduel joined the WHS community. So far, she has been actively committed to helping the team find the funds they need to afford better equipment.
“I am excited to see the team work hard and motivate each other. I hope to give my team the same excitement in tennis that I had growing up,” Maduel said.
For the girls tennis team, new clothing items, such as compression shirts, would allow for faster movement. In the 2025 season, the team used loose-fitted tank tops that have been handed down for over 10 years. However, the transition into the 2026 season sees promising changes as Umapathy has met with the new athletic director, David St. Martin, and discussed a possibility of having new equipment in time for the upcoming season. And being that there are about 20 people on the team, and only 15 jerseys, the team needs more funding.
“We need new jerseys because the ones we currently have are very old. Not to mention we don’t have enough for everyone,” Umapathy said.
With a new athletic director, the tennis team has found a way for funding to increase, alongside the team advocating for financial backing; however, many other everyday pieces of equipment the team uses are also outdated. Without support, the team will have to find another way to pay for the expenses that come from tennis.
“Due to our sport not being as equally represented, we never had boosters, unlike other sports, so we always have way less funding and have to pay for most things ourselves,” Margetis said.
Although the team has fought for new equipment for years, in 2025, Maduel and St. Martin are actively doing their part in finding the financial support the team needs. So far, new score cards have been promised, alongside an abundance of new balls for days devoted to practicing. Although new uniforms have not yet been addressed, the team is proud to be able to support their teammates and encourage equality of all sports.
