PSAL------

Private----

Misc-------

9/28/11: Meet the Lady Jaspers

Welcome – I’m Christina Ton. Originally from Milpitas, California, I’ve been studying Communications at Manhattan College and am in my final year as a Lady Jasper on the women’s varsity tennis team. Here on my blog, you can find the latest news on your favorite Jasper team! For my first entry, I thought I would introduce the ladies to you.

As one of the two seniors on the team, I have essentially been a part of two significantly different groups of women, playing the role of the youngest and oldest member, respectively. Let me break it down for you.

When I was a freshman, most of the girls on the team were seniors, or at least held senior status and planned on graduating a semester early. After my first season as a Jasper, I said good-bye to five girls who I also called my

teammates and my friends. Essentially, I said farewell to our entire squad. When sophomore year came around, I met a completely new group of girls: a completely new team.

For the last three years, senior Hilary Valenzuela (Mesa, AZ) and I held leadership positions on the team, despite a lack of “experience” in our early careers. It was a very rushed situation to be thrust into as college sophomores. However, I can proudly say that I believe we’ve held the fort down quite impressively. Valenzuela has been a key member of the top tier in our lineup since the moment she made her way across the country to grace the team with her presence. Not only is she one of our best players, she’s also my best friend!

Our junior class includes fellow “foreigner” Lili Johnson (Tulsa, OK), and locals Stephanie Tsao (Scarsdale, NY), and Megan Maffei (Stony Point, NY).

Johnson has been our #1 singles player for the last three years as well as a steady member of the #1 doubles team. Tsao, the team’s only engineer, is by far the most studious. The most athletic girl among us, not only does she excel on the court, she works extremely hard in the classroom as well. Transferring in last year, Maffei is the bubbliest player we’ve ever had! She is always the team’s source of laughter whether during practice or even the most tense matches.

Brianna Turano (Nutley, NJ) is the team’s sole sophomore. My doubles partner for the first half of my junior season, she is a total fighter on the court. Off court, Turano helps her family run their two restaurants in New Jersey.

Our freshmen lot is made up of Chris Evert Academy alum Caitlin Bricketto (Coral Springs, FL), Catherine Clark (Salem, CT), and Alyssa Rosello (Garden City, NY), who at 5’10,’’ is the tallest and youngest member of our team.