It was an otherwise routine conversation between Danny Gorman, the uncle, and Danny Gorman, the nephew.

“Are you looking forward to the upcoming tennis season?” asked the elder Gorman.

“Can’t wait,” replied the nephew. “I just wish we had a coach.”

The discussion took place just weeks prior to the West boys tennis team’s season opener. Days later, the senior Gorman took over as coach of Blue Knights, a task even the former youth tennis instructor found daunting.

Shawna Morley, who coached West the previous five seasons, left for Bedford High School after leading the Blue Knights to a 13-1 record and trip to the Class L championship in 2007.

The team also lost four of six starters from last year, including No. 1 Courtney Mountifield, who is ranked in the top six in New England in 16U USTA play.

With all that in mind, Gorman set what he thought was a reasonable goal.

“I wasn’t really sure because I didn’t know the team that well, but I spoke with my nephew, and he felt if we made the playoffs that would be a good season,” said Gorman. “I mean, we brought back our No. 5 and a No. 6 who was only there half of last season, so we didn’t have a whole heck of a lot of experience.”

The first-year coach’s expectations have changed.

After a 5-4 triumph against previously 8-2 Londonderry on Monday, May 12, West improved its record to 12-1 – good enough for second place in Class L behind the only team it lost to, undefeated Salem, which returned five starters this season.

“If you look at the schedule and the teams we beat, and the fact we weren’t bringing back a lot of players, let alone proven players, you wouldn’t think we would be doing this well,” said Gorman. “But I give a lot of credit to the boys. They don’t give up, and they’ve really worked hard to improve every game.”

If you look closely, proof of progress is easy to see.

Through the first eight contests of the season, Gorman said his squad was unable to win two of three doubles matches. That was, of course, until it needed to.

Tied at three points apiece at one-loss Exeter on April 30, the Blue Knights earned a 5-4 victory by winning two of three doubles contests.

Three days later they did it again, this time against Queen City rival Central, to secure another 5-4 win.

In fact, West is now 6-0 in one-point decisions and 7-1 against teams currently in playoff contention.

Individually, there may be no better story than Jack Daly. After John Lydiard was bumped from the lineup with tendinitis earlier this season, Daly, who had yet to play, was forced into action against a solid Trinity team on April 14. Down 6-1 in his singles match, Daly came back and won on a tiebreaker. The victory proved decisive in West’s 5-4 victory.

Then on April 18, Daly earned another singles victory to give his team a 4-2 lead at defending champ Concord. He and Jake Nutter proceeded to turn a 3-1 doubles deficit into an 8-4 triumph.

“We lose one of those matches and we lose the No. 2 position in the playoffs, and now we’re talking about going to Concord in the second round. And everyone knows when you say New Hampshire boys tennis, Concord is always the first name that comes to mind,” said Gorman.

In addition to Daly and Lydiard, four other Bedford residents are contributing regularly in the West ladder.

Senior Rob Heestand, last season’s No. 5 starter, took over the top spot this season. He is followed by No. 2 C.J. Beck, No. 4 Tyler Laszewski and Nutter, the Blue Knights’ No. 5. The younger Danny Gorman plays No. 3.

Heestand and Gorman team up in doubles, as do Beck and Laszewski, and Nutter and Daly. When healthy, Lydiard contributes on the No. 3 unit.

“This is a team that has the same record as last year, only last year they breezed through everyone and didn’t find much competition until they hit Concord,” said Gorman “This season they’ve had their backs against the wall all year and have had to work for every win."