Our Crimson Knights

Salisbury Tennis Turns Up the Heat for the 2025 Season 

Each spring, after Head Coach Morgan Phillips has chosen that year’s Salisbury on the Varsity Tennis team, he engages in a rather unique ceremony to kick off the season. The tradition, which he has upheld each year since arriving on the Hilltop in fall 2022, involves 26 branding irons (one for each letter of the alphabet), a dozen or so two-foot sections of 1x6” boards, the firepit outside of Belin Lodge, and his racquet-bearing Knights. With the help of fireproof gloves and a steady hand, Coach Phillips burns the last name of each player on a piece of hardwood. From there, he constructs the year’s ladder—which serves as the most up-to-date ranking of his team—and displays it beside the Centennial Tennis Courts. When opposing schools visit campus, they are envious of the uniqueness of the team’s ranking billboard. No one in New England does it quite like Coach MP. 

The players on this year’s squad are excited for the burning ceremony, but more than that, they are ready to build on a strong season from a year ago. Despite dealing with illness for much of 2024, the team finished with a winning record and returns its top five players. Led by two-time captain Sully Reilly ‘25, a four-year member of the varsity team, this year’s squad is built on continuity and growth. Only one major contributor from last season is not returning this year—giving Phillips reason to think his team could take the next step toward the NEPSAC Class B Tournament. 

Ladder leader Taran Taylor ‘25 returns as the No. 1 seed with his sphinxlike attitude on the court. There are few players in all of New England who are as fit, quick, and patient as Taylor. There are even fewer, however, who are as honest with themselves about their ability as the sixth-former. You will almost never see him chase a ball he can’t reach—reserving energy for later points. The approach is particularly frustrating for opponents, especially at this level. 

Joining Taylor at the top of the ladder will be Kevin Nguyen ‘25, a three-year varsity member who has grown exponentially as a player since his fourth-form year two years ago. Boasting an unorthodox but well-practiced swing, Nguyen jumped from No. 5 in 2023 to No. 2 last season and is expected to challenge Taylor for the top spot this year. 

Other key returners include Burke Cameron ‘26, whom Phillips describes simply as “an awesome person” who comes back better every single break. With a tendency to rush the net and attack his opponent’s weak shots, Cameron is working to add more power to his groundstrokes and serve. 

Declan Hessler ‘26, an uber-talented fifth-former, returns to the courts looking to build on a strong campaign last season. Phillips commented on Hessler’s shot-making ability, calling it “elite” and particularly challenging for opponents to combat. Similarly, Beck Collins ‘25, an explosive little lefty, should use his strong groundstroke to earn victories this spring. 

Rounding out the returners is Will Judge ‘25, who takes the court for the first time since 2023 after recovering from injury. He will be a doubles specialist. 

Fellow Knights looking to join the returners at the varsity level include Kaspar Lang ‘28, an undersized third-former with the talent to crack the singles lineup. Meanwhile, Alex Kim ‘26 has been working hard this offseason, attending all practice opportunities to get as many reps as possible. Joining them is Henry Eber ‘25, a standout star on the gridiron who can now, with the college process taken care of, focus on his progress as a tennis player. 

While the team plays plenty of tennis and prioritizes winning, Phillips also values a strong culture. Nothing embodies this more than the annual mixed doubles tournament with the Hotchkiss girls’ team, a tradition started by former Head Coach Trevor Rees. Past winner Captain Reilly is hoping to return to the top this May. 

With an ultra-competitive schedule against some of the best tennis programs in the region, Coach MP already has one match circled: at Pomfret on April 5—the season opener. Beyond wanting to start the season off right, Phillips sees the Griffins as a direct competitor for one of the coveted eight spots in the Class B Tournament in May, a field that includes 57 teams. 

This year’s rendition of Salisbury Tennis is talented, hungry, and ready to make noise.