CAMBRIDGE — The wait is finally over.
In each of the past four seasons, the Manchester Essex girls tennis team has been on the brink of state championship glory, only to see their Cape Ann League rivals from Hamilton-Wenham hoist the Division 4 trophy every single time.
The Hornets have advanced to at least the state semifinals every year since 2023, coming up short in the title match at MIT twice to the Generals, including last spring where they were on the wrong side of a clean sweep.
But this year felt different. And for Manchester’s only senior — second singles star and co-captain Grace Scarbrough — it had to be the year her group finally got over the hill and dethroned their conference foes.
The Hornets did just that, with Scarbrough and fellow singles players Sarah Cort (No. 1) and Ellen Gilson (No. 3) all coming out on top to send their group to a dramatic 3-2 triumph in Saturday’s championship rematch back in Cambridge.
It was Manchester Essex’s first state crown since 2013.
“I got on the bus (Saturday) and I was like, ‘I can’t come all the way here and watch them win again’,” said an emotional Scarbrough. The gifted All-CAL standout has been on the varsity team since her freshman year, and secured her squad’s lone win against H-W in the title tilt back in 2023.
“That was a good feeling, but it doesn’t feel the same when the team doesn’t win,” she continued. “So I have had deep motivation since (2023) to come back and win this for everybody; it’s beyond words … I’m so excited, it’s just the best feeling ever.”
As she’s been all season, Scarbrough was tactical in a 6-2, 6-3 drubbing of worthy Generals’ opponent Krishna Guruji. The decisive win capped off a perfect farewell campaign for Scarbrough, who had made the leap from third to second singles at the start of the year.
But she certainly didn’t do it alone.
Her third singles replacement Gilson, a freshman, was equally impressive in Saturday’s victory. After easily capturing the first set against Charlotte Ireland, 6-2, Gilson was pushed to the brink in the second. She actually trailed, 6-5, but rallied to win the next game and knot things up before ultimately prevailing in dominant fashion in the tiebreaker, 7-1.
With first singles star Cort, a junior captain, having already rolled over CAL Baker Division Player of the Year Emily McIntosh, 6-1, 6-2, Gilson’s thrilling decision was the final point Manchester needed to secure the team win.
“I tried to kind of think of it just like a normal Thursday game, but there’s definitely a lot of pressure,” admitted Gilson, smiling from ear to ear. “I just tried to play my best, make as many shots as I could and not really worry about if it’s a winner or not, just getting it back.”
Gilson’s approach worked wonders, which certainly came as no surprise to coach Alston.
“She only lost once all year, she plays a lot of long points so she’s been in this situation for us before,” explained Alston, his team wrapping up the year at 20-2. “For her to hang in there and really win the tiebreaker comfortably, that shows some real mental fortitude and competitiveness — especially as a freshman. I couldn’t be more impressed with the way she finished it off there.”
Immediately after Gilson earned the match sealing point, her entire team mobbed her on the court in celebration. The raw emotion from everyone in green and white was telling; they had worked incredibly hard for this, and had finally reaped the rewards at the highest level.
“It’s incredible. We’ve gotten so close to this many times in the last couple of years, and then for our singles to come through the way they have all year and to win it in a tiebreaker right there … you saw all the emotion for all of us at the end,” said Alston. “This is as good a feeling as you can get in sports. We all couldn’t be happier.”
Hamilton-Wenham took both doubles matches, with Evelyn Esdaile and Sofie Greene topping Hornets’ duo Sophia Eagan and Annie Kent in straight sets (6-0, 6-2) at No. 2, and Gabrielle Jewett and Madeline Fennell outlasting Maeve McArdle and Lila Braier in a third set super-tiebreaker (10-7).
In a match that was as close as it gets on the final team scoreboard, winning it all was one thing for Manchester. But doing it against the four-time defending champs, a familiar team that they face twice every spring before the tournament even begins, brought an entirely different level of satisfaction for the Hornets.
“We knew Ham-Wen would be a huge test, as they were, so we felt the pressure for sure,” added Alston, whose team split the pair of regular season matches against H-W. “But when I saw they had won in the semis I was happy to know it was going to be against them because to be the best you have to beat the best, and they have been the best for a long time.”
The Hornets will wave goodbye to Scarbrough, but have the luxury of returning their remaining lineup for another crack at it next spring. Scarbrough is thrilled to go out a champion, but knows this is only the beginning for her squad.
“I told Sarah (Cort) I’d leave a legacy for them, so now they just gotta keep winning,” said Scarbrough. “It’s been really great to go on this journey with them and help do it for them as the senior, as the leader. We’re a small but mighty team and I’ve loved every moment of it.”