Betsy Brenner is happy to say that her tennis team is the "best public school" team in the state.

The Barrington High School tennis team rolled to a 12-1 regular season record and two Division I playoff victories. LaSalle Academy twice spoiled the Eagles' bids for celebration, however, as the Rams defeated Barrington in the final match of the regular season and also defeated the Eagles in the Division I finals on Saturday afternoon at Slater Park in Pawtucket.

"The losses, of course, never feel good, but LaSalle is a perennial powerhouse," said Coach Brenner. "They are a very good team."

After losing to the Rams 4-0 in the final match of the regular season, Barrington entered the Division I playoffs as the number two seed. 

In the first round, the Eagles hosted Smithfield and cruised to a 4-0 victory. Barrington's singles players Caroline Maher, Kate Robertson and Beth Wang and the Eagles' second doubles team of Lauren Jay and Sonya Pareek were the first to capture victories against the Sentinels.

Barrington faced off against a tough Moses Brown team in the semifinals. The Quakers had upset Wheeler in the first round of the playoffs and Coach Brenner felt the pressure mounting as her Eagles took the court against the Division I rivals.

"It was very stressful because all of the pressure was on us," Coach Brenner said. 

But her team responded to the challenge and defeated Moses Brown 4-1. 

Wang won her match at third singles and Marie Chanfrau was victorious at fourth singles. Meanwhile, the first doubles team of Eve Stockwell and Hailey Walter won its match and Jay and Pareek rolled at second doubles.

"I was thrilled with that win," said Coach Brenner.

The Eagles squared off against LaSalle in the finals at Slater Park in Pawtucket on Saturday afternoon. Coach Brenner said she told her players to treat the finals like any other tennis match — play hard and do their best. 

"Anything can happen," she said. "But they (LaSalle) were the stronger team."

Coach Brenner said LaSalle won four team points and captured the title, but added that Barrington players had been in contention of winning other matches that were cut short when the Rams captured their fourth team point.

"The (Barrington) girls went out there trying their very best, playing their hearts out," Coach Brenner said. "If everyone's giving their very best what more can you ask for?"

Coach Brenner said that while LaSalle may have won the Division I state title on Saturday, Barrington High School proved it was "the best public school team in Rhode Island."

Seniors celebrated

Barrington will lose four seniors from this year's team: Lexi Brenner, Beth Wang, Lauren Jay and Eve Stockwell. Coach Brenner shared sincere praise for all four girls, adding that they have all been members of the BHS varsity tennis team for all four years.

"We're really going to miss them," Coach Brenner said. "They will be missed as role models on and off the court. All four of them have been able to be true leaders of the team."

Coach Brenner said she planned a special celebration for the team this week — on Tuesday she was hosting an ice cream party at her house for the Eagles. Coach Brenner started the tradition when she first began coaching the BHS girls tennis team years ago.