Winning a state tennis championship is a tough enough task. Six individual players have to do their part, then change their approaches and play doubles – generally immediately following an intense singles match. Now, take away two of the starting six and, subsequently, one of three doubles units. That’s what happened to the Derryfield girls tennis team.

Undermanned, the No. 1-seeded Lady Cougars still edged No. 2 Inter-Lakes, 5-4, to capture their fourth Class M-S title in 10 years.

Derryfield’s No. 3, Camille Smith, and No. 4, Aislinn Smith, let their coach, Gustavo Moral of Bedford, know weeks ahead of time they would be unable to attend and play should DS reach the finale.

So coach Moral decided on a proactive approach. DS’s No. 5 to 8 singles players – Emily Mastrogiacomo of Bedford, Sadie Fowler, Catalina Benech and Claudia Camerino – each moved up two slots. And the doubles units of Mastrogiacomo/Fowler and Benech/Camerino did the same.

“Essentially we had to go up four positions – two in doubles and four in singles – so we knew we had to plan accordingly,” said Moral, who didn’t wait until the final contest to make the adjustment.

“(The Smith sisters) were available for the semifinal, but I didn’t play them because I knew the other girls needed the experience playing with the type of pressure and emotional stress that comes with competing at that particular level,” he continued. “Frankly, I was preparing them to win a championship.”

The coach also used the modified lineup at the end of the regular season in scrimmages against Class L semifinalist Central and a solid Bishop Guertin squad. Derryfield won both contests.

“Looking back, this year’s team was certainly hard working and knew they had a tough task at hand, and they handled themselves well … and they did it,” said Moral. “As a coach, that’s something you appreciate and respect.”

But it was Bedford’s Lydia Mackenzie, a junior, and Jessica Ginsberg, a senior – the Cougars’ No. 1 and No. 2, respectively – whom Moral said deserved particular credit.

“Our experience was evident in that we finished the season undefeated, and the four girls who had to move up deserve a lot of credit for their accomplishments, but I think in talking about them moving up, Lydia and Jessica are forgotten about a little,” said Moral. “They are both tough competitors that certainly improved as well and set the tone for the team with their play and their leadership.”

Other locals on this year’s squad included sophomores Emily Anderson and Adrianna Grimaldi, as well as freshmen Sarah DiBrigid, Chloe Nguyen and Meredith Levden, all of Bedford; freshman Ela Teevan of Goffstown; and junior Stephanie Hogan and freshman Mariel McCleod of Windham.

Match notes
Against Inter-Lakes, MacKenzie won, 8-4; Mastrogiacomo thumped her foe, 8-2; Fowler earned an 8-3 victory; and Camerino triumphed, 8-5. Ginsberg dropped her match, 8-4, and Benech fell, 8- 5.

In doubles, MacKenzie and Ginsberg were edged, 8-6, and Camerino and Benech lost by the same score.

But Fowler and Mastrogiacomo crushed their opponent, 8-1, to secure the title.