Athlete Of The Week: Ryan Casey

NORTH EASTHAM — Senior Ryan Casey has played on the Monomoy Regional High School boys tennis team since he was in eighth grade. He’s confident that this season will be one of the best in that five-year run.

The Sharks are 7-1, and Casey said he thinks the team can go two or three rounds deep into the Division 4 state tournament. Monomoy reached the second round last year.

 “I’m definitely happy with how the season is going for me and the team,” Casey said. “Looking like a good rest of the season.”

As part of Monomoy’s 4-1 victory Friday over Nauset Regional High School, Casey defeated senior Will Murphy 6-2, 6-2 in second singles. 

 “I think I played pretty good,” Casey said. “Happy with my play.”

A Harwich resident, Casey played first singles as a freshman and second singles as an eighth grader. Now a senior captain, he leads a team that features a freshman, Roman Pavluchenko, who plays first singles and joined the team as an eighth grader, just like Casey.

 “He brings that leadership and he brings that camaraderie they can talk about, and he can lead by example,” Monomoy head coach Reuben Bowman said.

As a captain, Casey said he tries to keep “good energy” with teammates, pushing them through matches.

 “Just looking after everybody, make sure everyone is doing good,” he said. “Try and lead by example for the younger kids.”