WOODBURY — Nonnewaug’s new girls tennis coach has been playing tennis for decades now.
Cindy Pezzullo, former Woodbury Middle School teacher, is now the girls tennis coach at Nonnewaug.
“I have been a tennis player literally since I was probably eight or nine years old,” said Pezzullo. “I used to take a ball and hit it against my garage as a kid, and there’s something about the sport that I just love.”
Pezzullo grew up playing tennis, so she had that same idea for her kids.
“I’ve also raised two kids that were very big USTA players,” Pezzullo said, “so I’ve been on the competitive side my whole life.”
Nonnewaug assistant principal Declan Curtin, who was a part of the hiring process, says that Pezzullo is going to be a great fit for the girls tennis team.
“Tennis to her is a passion,” Curtin said. “It’s a lifestyle that she lives every single day, but I think one of the best parts about her is that to me she exudes motherhood. I believe when you meet her there’s like a soft, gentle, caring aspect of her that is going to nurture and look after our athletes on the girls tennis team. For me, that is literally the perfect combination: someone who is competitive about the sport, knowledgeable about the sport, but also has the human element to her.”
Senior captain Katie Farrell thinks this year is going to be a lot of fun and a fresh start because of Pezzullo.
“I think Mrs. Pezzullo will bring a really fun and comfortable vibe to this season,” Farrell said. “It’s always good to get new guidance, and I’m really excited because she’s really experienced and still plays to this day.”
Having her team grow as players and bond as teammates is very important to Pezzullo.
“Goal number one is for my players to improve in the game, and enjoy playing the game,” said Pezzullo. “I want them to have a lot of camaraderie within the team, support each other and also learn the foundational skills they need to succeed on the court.”
Sophomore tennis player Ava Hirleman says that if Pezzullo works on developing the underclassmen, then the season will go as she hopes.
“I think it will go well,” Hirleman said. “I hope that we have as good of a season as we had last year. We lost a lot of seniors, but if she really tries to help the underclassmen that will be really helpful so that we can get more people who know how to play tennis.”
Pezzullo says that her passion for tennis played a big role in her decision to coach.
“I would say that my passion for tennis [was a factor], plus I love to impart my passion of tennis on young girls,” Pezzullo continues. “It empowers young girls to start a new sport that’s a lifelong sport. You can always pick up a racket and go out and play, so I just think it’s such a fabulous sport to stay in shape and have fun. I’m looking forward to having a lot of fun and being competitive at the same time.”
Hirleman agrees with Farrell that Pezzullo is going to make this season extremely enjoyable.
“I think it’s going to be an entirely new environment,” Hirleman said. “I think everyone is going to have way more fun and I’m also really excited because she has a lot of experience. She knows what she’s doing, so that can help the newer people who don’t know what they’re doing, so they can enjoy the sport.”
Like Hirleman, coach Pezzullo agrees that there needs to be elements of fun during practices, but athletes still need to have a good attitude and work ethic.
“My message would be to always bring your best attitude and work ethic to every practice,” Pezzullo said. “You will get better, and whenever you get better at something you enjoy it more. I think once you get those foundational skills down then you can really enjoy the nuances of tennis and the strategies involved.”
