For St. Francis Prep, the future beckons

On adjacent courts they stood, the present, past and future of St. Francis Prep tennis.
As Shinann Featherston, the Terriers’ top singles player, a senior who has yet to drop a high school set - not to mention match - was working her way through an uncharacteristically sloppy start against Cardozo’s Jillian Santos, sophomore Shraddha Prabhu, their second singes player, was finding a way to win in three sets herself.
Behind their two stars, St. Francis proved themselves yet again as the class of tri-state area tennis, winning their ninth consecutive Mayor’s Cup crown - the 21-year old tournament pitting the top Catholic, public and private schools - 5-0 over Cardozo at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing, as they captured their 144th straight match overall, a streak that dates back to the 1998 Mayor’s Cup.
The run has been fostered by Featherston, installed at No. 1 singles her first day as a freshman. The high-level tournament player, who will attend North Carolina in the fall, now departs. Based on the ascent of Prabhu, and the infusion of several new players Coach John Brennan says may be his best yet, a group of seven soon-to-be freshmen, the Terriers reign does not look to be ending.
Only Featherston and reserve Michelle D’Alleva graduate. Five of their 15 players are underclassmen, including Prabhu and freshman third singles Paulina Syrnik.
The additions, she said, should improve the team’s depth. Brennan will have 12 quality players from which to choose from. He is excited about Prabhu, too, who has grown since her first days at the Fresh Meadows school.
As a freshman, the Bellerose native was erratic, looking to turn every rally into a winner, often committing unforced errors instead. On Sunday, against Leighann Sahagun, like many of the Terriers an accomplishment tournament player, she prevailed thanks to a consistent approach that belied her development. While the precocious freshman committed mistakes, Prabhu kept the ball in play, allowing Sahagun to end points.
“She’s got a better idea when to the ball in play and when to hit winners,” Brennan said.
Added Featherston: “I definitely think she can live up to playing No. 1. These two years, she has really matured as a player and a person, so she has the capability. She has become more consistent. She used to hit the ball just one pace and it would go either in or out. She has changed [her game] to adapt to different players, so she is winning a lot more.”
Prabhu came up to net when the opportunity presented itself. She ended the first set by picking off Sahagun’s forehand passing shots inches off the ground. After dropping a hard-fought second set, she roared back to take the final one, 6-2.
In many ways, Prabhu used the principles she learned from Featherston - consistency, resiliency and patience - to prevail. She will need those next year when handed the keys to the kingdom, the top player on the best team with the decade-long winning streak.
“I’m going to have to step up,” she said. “It’s a lot to carry, but I will try my best of course.”
St. Francis’s competitors may look at Featherston’s graduation as an opening. However, Brennan is not too worried.
“The team is in good hands,” he said. “I hope they think it’s safe to play us. They might find out it’s not safe at all.”