By Marc Thaler
Staff Writer

Goffstown senior co-captain Meghan Welch is one of 10 Grizzlies whose laid-back approach to tennis has helped the program to double-digit wins in 2005. Welch, the team's top-seeded singles player, also earned invitations to compete in the state singles and doubles tournaments. (Marc Thaler Photo)

GOFFSTOWN - Girls tennis coach Don Welch has a greedy group of Goffstown High School Grizzlies on his hands. And he wouldn't want this otherwise polite team of 10 to act any other way while on the court.

Prior to the start of the 2005 Class L season, Goffstown.s team goal was to win nine of its 14 spring contests.

"If we got nine wins, it would be a good season," the coach said. "If we got any more than nine wins, it would be a great season."

Entering Wednesday, May 11, against visiting 9-1 Londonderry, GHS had already met its objective. With three matches remaining on the regular-season slate, the locals were 9-2.

"We're looking for more now," Welch said. "It's bonus time now. Whatever else we get makes it that much better."

The locals likely made the Lancers. bus ride home a long trip; Londonderry exited Barnard Park on the short end of a 7-2 final score.

Already owning nine wins, it wouldn't seem triumph No. 10 could be so critical.

Guess again.

Due to a logjam at the top of the Class L standings, winning every outing isn't just significant to postseason tournament placement.

First and foremost, it's crucial to simply making the playoffs. Only eight schools will compete in the second season, Welch said, forcing every player to remain competitive for every point.

Goffstown's appetite to improve, according to co-captain and top-seeded player Meghan Welch, is a serious strength of this particular group.

"Nobody skips practices," said the GHS senior, offering an example of what's helped make the team so tough. "Everybody's always there on time and wants to improve their skills ... When I look at it, I just hope that we go out there (on game days) and play our hardest."

Perhaps the perfect case illustrating the point offered by Goffstown's top player was a GHS match at Exeter earlier in the year.

Aside from Bishop Guertin of Nashua, the Blue Hawks were the only squad the Grizzlies had never beaten in two-plus seasons among the Granite State's heavyweights.

However, the afternoon in Exeter belonged to the locals. Goffstown won, 7-2, clinching the team victory by sweeping all six singles contests.

"Very seldom do they go out there and look nervous," said Welch. "They're always going out there confident because they're good players."

"We just don't get stressed out about any matches because we're always having fun. We.ll be serious at times, but just when we're down 1-7," joked senior co-captain and No. 2 singles player Lucy Brown.

In truth, the talent throughout Goffstown's roster has translated into very few - if any - tense moments.

Tennis players must remain relaxed in adverse situations, the coach said. If an athlete is having a tough day, she can't call time out or request a substitute.

"You.ve gotta play through it," Welch said.

In addition to the co-captains, the rest of Goffstown's red-hot '05 roster includes senior Paige Doster; juniors Brit dePinquertaine, Elise Greenfield and Shelby Raymond; sophomores Ashlynne dePinquertaine, Ashley Jennings and Laurie Politz; and freshman Emma Drew.

"We've played a very tough schedule. We've played all the top teams in Class L," the coach said. "I knew we were gonna be good. I just didn't know how good."

Team notes
Meghan Welch earned the No. 10 seed for the state singles tournament at the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, May 14.

Meanwhile, Welch and Brit dePinquertaine will play as the No. 4 seed at the state doubles tourney at Plymouth State University on Sunday, May 22.