After former Head Coach Tom Hunt’s retirement last year, Joseph Block took charge of the Kent Boys Tennis Varsity Team. Previously serving as assistant coach, he ensured a seamless transition for the team. According to co-captain Joshua Chan, Coach Block learned a lot from Coach Hunt, and their similar coaching styles have helped maintain the team’s positive culture. Originally from England, Coach Block brings with him competitive experience from the University of Oxford and UK high school tennis. 

Even with all the tough games they have faced this season, the team has strived hard to develop good chemistry and build lasting relationships. This has been boosted by the joining of new players, and Chan emphasized that an essential approach they took was encouraging them to play along with high-ranked opponents. As a co-captain, he has the responsibility of ensuring each of the players feels supported and that the morale of everyone is high. Even with the tough times in losing, he believes that the spirit of representing the school motivates everyone. 

A memorable moment happened in the home game against Choate Rosemary Hall on May 6 when o-captains Joshua Chan and Jeremiah Murphy teamed up to play doubles. With their parents watching proudly from the sidelines and Kent School students cheering for them, Chan and Murphy earned a 9–7 victory—the first doubles victory against Choate since Chan joined the team.

This season for Boys Varsity Tennis has far surpassed the scores on the board. Whether struggling for hard-earned victories or training hard every day, the team embodies the Kent competency of Active Empathy, as evidenced in their dedication to helping their teammates improve and their efforts in every game, respecting their opponents and themselves.  Looking forward, the positive atmosphere, resilience, and tennis skills they cultivated this spring will undoubtedly allow them to finish strong.