The Haldane girls’ Varsity Tennis Team, a dedicated and ambitious group, has ended its fall season by finishing most, if not all, of its matches by moonlight. The team has long had to deal with worries about lighting, often shortening or calling off matches due to darkness. Coach Simon Dudar and Coach Barbara Jennings have ended this nocturnal nonsense this year. At long last, lights are being added to the courts.
This fall, the team held a successful fundraiser to purchase outdoor lighting for the courts. The team managed to raise just under $10,000 and has bought a set of lights, which will be mounted on the fence nearest to Route 9D. The plan is for the lights to be either on a timer or activated by a light sensor that will turn them on once the sun sets. The same timer would turn them off at 9 PM so they don’t use excess energy.
“The biggest concern about lights in the past was light pollution, or the outpouring of light off the tennis courts into the surrounding neighborhoods,” explained Coach Dudar. “Now there is a system of lighting that eliminates that and only keeps the light inside the courts.”
First singles player Ellie Dubroff appreciated the lighting solution. “I think it’s necessary because we have had to end a lot of matches early because it gets dark,” Dubroff said. “It will give more people on the team the opportunity to play longer or just simply play at all.”
As October progresses, even the brightest green tennis balls become a hazy orb on dark courts. Although the team is talented, players stated that hitting a ball flying at your face without one hundred percent clear visibility is a challenge suited more to Jedi than to tennis players. The team says they are looking forward to fall 2025 and a brighter path for all.
Scout Thakur de Beer is a member of the varsity tennis team.