Athlete Of The Week: Roman Pavluchenko

HARWICH – It’s difficult to dominate a sport as an upperclassman, and it’s even harder to be among the best as an underclassmen.

That is what makes what Roman Pavluchenko has accomplished for the Monomoy boys tennis team this spring so impressive. Although he’s just an eighth grader, Pavluchenko has been among the Sharks’ most consistent players this spring.

While competing at third and second singles, the Harwich resident has yet to lose a match. On Monday, he kept his perfect record alive with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Ayden Naydenov to earn Monomoy’s lone victory in a 4-1 loss at Cape Cod Academy.

“He’s been solid all year,” Monomoy coach Reuben Bowman said. “He hasn’t lost a match and he’s very confident on the court. If he hits a bad shot, he forgets about it and moves on with his match.”

Pavluchenko attributes his strong start to his increasing confidence, which began to grow in the team’s season-opening 3-2 loss at Nantucket. The eighth grader suffered a 7-5 loss in the first set before rebounding to earn 6-0, 6-1 victories and claim a match victory over Nantucket’s Henry Kalawatha.

“I lost my first set and then came back to play really well,” Pavluchenko said. “It has helped boost my confidence that I’m in the starting lineup and I’m only in eighth grade.”

If Monomoy is able to earn a return trip to the Division 4 state tournament, Pavluchenko’s ascension in the starting lineup will likely play a key part in helping the team clinch another postseason berth.