Though the Heschel tennis season has only just begun, it is already off to an incredible start! This year’s coach, Michal Bareket-Bloom, will be coaching both the girls’ and boys’ teams. Currently, she is the head coach for the Avenues girls’ varsity tennis team. She is also the wife of Gilad Bloom, an Israeli tennis superstar ranked No. 61 in singles and No. 61 in doubles worldwide.
The girls’ and boys’ teams practice at Stadium Tennis in the Bronx and Sportime Tennis Center in Randall’s Island. Though these teams are separate, players often get the chance to practice in mixed settings.
After a few weeks of intense tryouts, filled with drills and practice matches, Coach Bloom has determined and posted the team roster. Practicing two to three times a week, the Heschel varsity girls’ and boys’ tennis teams are looking ready to conquer all matches coming their way.
No. 2 singles player on the girls’ varsity team Sophia Kasirer-Teitelbaum says, “The tennis team is starting off strong, with many new members on both the girls’ and boys’ teams. Our new coach, Michal Bloom, is a strong player and great at preparing the team for matches. I’m excited to see how this season goes!”
The first match for the girls took place on Tuesday, April 2nd, against Maayanot. The Heschel team achieved an incredible victory with a score of 5-0! The team’s energy is still strong, and everyone is excited to see how the rest of the season plays out!
On April 8th, the boys played their first match against Hillel and defeated them with a score of 4-1. While the weather did not play out in their favor, the boys managed to keep their spirits high and win the match.
The boys’ varsity team player Tal Visser added, “The talented new freshmen bring a new energy which, combined with the experience of the upperclassmen, has created a vibrant and exciting team culture.”