Dover tennis coach Carl Conrad notches 400th career win

Dover girls tennis coach Carl Conrad earned his 400th career win in a 5-0 match decision over Claymont on Thursday night at Dover City Park.

The Crimson Tornadoes were led by top singles player, freshman Taylor Rose, who bested Claymont’s Arianna Terekedis 6-2, 6-0. Also in singles play, senior Maisie Dugger blanked the Mustangs’ Emma Lesiecki (6-0, 6-0), while junior Kaleigh McCutcheon downed Brooke Davis (6-2, 7-5).

As for the doubles matches, Dover seniors Jenna Zeigler and Hannah Graziani downed juniors Maddison Houston and Emily Luyster 6-1, 6-1; while Tornadoes senior Grace Williams and junior Josie Pinielli bested sophomore Allyson Kadri and Makayla Kendall 6-0, 6-0.

Conrad, who also formerly coached the Crimson Tornadoes’ boys team, has been involved with Dover’s tennis programs since 1998. He coached the boys squad through the 2018 season and compiled a record of 202-152 during that time.

Conrad has also held two different stints as Dover’s girls coach: from 2000 to 2002, and from 2010 to the present. In that time, Conrad’s girls teams have a combined record of 198-63.

“I couldn’t have done it without the boys and girls who have played for me over the past 25 years and the support of the Dover community,” Conrad told his players and parents after Thursday’s match. “The common denominator throughout the years are the players, who put in the work, the parents, who keep the kids coming, and the support the program gets from the school and community.”

Dover athletic director Tim McCrate stated on Thursday that Conrad with be honored later in the fall season at an upcoming Dover football game.

“Carl is one of our most humble and ‘under-the-radar’ teacher-coaches,” says McCrate. “While he calls it ‘doing his job,’ we understand the special commitment and professionalism it takes to make ‘the Dover difference’.”

With the victory, Dover improves to 6-0 on the season and will move on to next Monday’s match against Louisville at Dover City Park.