Neon green tennis balls flew through the air as Archer varsity tennis players and their family members competed in the Annual Parent-Daughter Round-Robin Oct. 15. The players teamed up with their family members in doubles matches against another partnership on the other side of the net.
Head Coach Paula Feigenbaum awarded prizes to the team that won the most games during the round-robin and to the “best-dressed” duo. This year, sophomore Tatiana Bojeczko and her mom won both prizes. Junior Parker Keston and her mom won the “best-dressed” award.
Feigenbaum created this tradition her first season coaching Archer tennis eight years ago. She said her favorite part about the annual round-robin is the connection it brings between not only parents and their daughters, but also between parents. She said the round-robin event often inspires parents to play tennis together outside of the event.
“Parents see each other often on campus. Seeing the parents play with their daughters against other Archer parents is another way of extending the tennis community,” Feigenbaum said. “By having these events, parents become social friends and tend to play outside of the Parent-Daughter Round-Robin on their own.”
Junior Presley Forster has played tennis at Archer since seventh grade, and this was her second year participating in the event. She said the highlight of the round-robin was being able to connect with the Archer tennis community through fun tennis matches.
“I love the bonding and connections formed between the parents and the daughters throughout,” Forster said, “and getting to play different parent-daughter duos.”
Players who do not have an older relative who plays tennis were paired with Archer alumni parents who once participated with their daughters in the event.
“I know many of the Archer parents play tennis. There’s no better joy than playing with your child,” Feigenbaum said. “Two alumni parents came to fill in and play because they love it so much.”
April Thrun is the mom of varsity tennis player Zoe Gazzuolo (’25). The two have been a part of the event for the past six years. Thrun said her favorite part about the round-robin tradition is being able to feel a part of the Archer tennis program and to create memories with her daughter.
“It’s nice to be part of the Archer tennis community. It’s great to see the girls grow across the years,” Thrun said. “It’s a very friendly, community-driven, teambuilding experience that Paula provides for the families. It’s really great to play with Zoe and have those lifetime memories.”
Following the Parent-Daughter Round-Robin, the Archer tennis community, including both the JV and varsity teams, celebrated senior night to honor the senior players’ contributions to the team. Sophomore varsity player Oona Seppala said it was an “incredible” experience and a night of gratitude for the seniors.
“All of the seniors this year have been on the team for years and they truly have changed this program,” Seppala said. “They’re the reason Archer tennis has the reputation that it does. We gave them speeches to recognize the hard work that they’ve done. They deserved it.”
Seppala has played on the varsity tennis team since her freshman year, and this is the second year she attended the Parent-Daughter Round-Robin event with her dad, who played Divison I tennis at Yale University. Seppala said her dad’s passion for tennis inspired her to play the sport from a young age.
“It’s nice because it’s a way for him to see all of my growth from being on the tennis team, and I have fun showing him what I can do,” Seppala said. “The parents have a lot of spirit and energy, which is what makes the entire round-robin so fun. The parents get into it, but at the end of the day, it’s about the girls on the team. All the parents are so proud of their kids.”
