Sophia Correnti Wins NHIAA Singles Tennis Championship
Sophia Correnti, a senior at Derryfield School, has finally clinched her long-awaited New Hampshire Interscholastic Athletic Association (NHIAA) singles tennis championship. After three years of near misses, Correnti triumphed at Southern New Hampshire University, defeating Callie Perrin from Souhegan High School with scores of 6-3, 6-4 in the finals.
“I was in disbelief, thinking, ‘Oh my God, I can’t believe I just did that. Wow,'” Correnti described the moment of her victory.
The win comes on the heels of a strong career in tennis, where she previously secured the runner-up position in the singles tournament during her sophomore and junior years, and reached the semifinals as a freshman.
Outstanding Season and Future Plans
Correnti’s championship was particularly sweet, arriving just five days after she played a key role in leading Derryfield to its second consecutive Division I team title. Correnti’s success this season is notable; she completed her senior year with an impeccable record of 21-0 in singles matches and finished her high school tennis career with an outstanding 57-2 singles record.
Looking ahead, Correnti is set to attend Tulane University in New Orleans this fall, where she plans to try out for the school’s Division I women’s tennis team. She attributes her mental preparation to her success, stating emphatically, “I want this. This is my last year to do it and I’m going to do it this year.”
Tournament Journey
As the tournament’s top seed, Correnti advanced to the final after securing a first-round bye and victories against Amelia Dumont from Winnacunnet (8-0) and Tess Jancar from Souhegan (8-2) in subsequent rounds. Notably, the singles tournament followed closely behind the state doubles tournament, in which Correnti and her partner, Sofia Koshy, also reached the semifinals.
The semifinal matchup against Justine Porowski from Keene, who was seeded fourth, tested Correnti’s skills, leading to a hard-fought victory after 88 minutes of intense gameplay. Even though Correnti faced a brief rest period of only 15 minutes before heading into the final against a well-rested Perrin—who easily defeated her semifinal opponent—Correnti consulted with her private coach, Danny McGuire, to manage her energy levels for the decisive match.
Despite the fatigue, she strategically utilized breaks between plays to regain composure, a tactic that proved effective. With her signature powerful serves and forehands, Correnti delivered clutch performances when it mattered most. The championship point was particularly gratifying for her, as she capped a lengthy rally with a precise cross-court shot, sealing the victory when Perrin’s reply went out.
Correnti expressed her heartfelt sentiments following the match, stating, “It meant a lot to me. It felt like finally, all my hard work has paid off.”
Her victory serves as a testament to her perseverance and dedication throughout her high school tennis journey.
