Blue Devil Athlete Spotlight: Kendal Hattabaugh (Girls Tennis)

Leominster High School junior Kendal Hattabaugh discovered tennis in an unexpected way: through driver’s education. During the summer between her freshman and sophomore years, she took the July driver’s education class taught by girls tennis head coach Mr. Robichaud.
“I first met Kendal in the Summer of 2024 when she was enrolled in the July Driver's Education Class that I was teaching,” Robichaud said. “We were later paired up for drive times later that fall. It was during our drive times that the recruiting process began when it was brought to my attention that she did not play a spring sport for LHS.”

A member of the basketball team, Hattabaugh had never considered tennis before Robichaud suggested it. Now, she is grateful she gave the sport a chance.

“I had never thought about playing any sport other than basketball,” Hattabaugh said. “But, he convinced me to at least give it a shot.”

Hattabaugh credits the welcoming atmosphere and team camaraderie as the main reasons she enjoys playing for the Blue Devils.

“What I like most about tennis is the amount of fun that I have playing it, as it’s very low-stakes for me and playing it is always a good time,” Hattabaugh said. “What I like most about being a part of the team at LHS is how welcoming and caring everyone is. As soon as I joined the team my sophomore year I felt immediately like part of the family.”

From her very first tryout, Robichaud was impressed with Hattabaugh’s athleticism and court presence. Despite not having played the sport previously, she quickly showed strong potential.

“All new players go through a process where we are looking to find the right fit for them, whether that is as a singles player or a doubles player,” Robichaud said. “Due to her strong athleticism, Kendal played in seven matches as a first-year player. Four of those matches were at second doubles and three at third singles. In fact, she rose to the top of our postseason challenge match ladder and secured the third singles spot for our State Tournament match at West Springfield. That was quite the accomplishment.”

This season, Hattabaugh has found success in doubles alongside classmate Taylor Green, forming what Robichaud nicknamed the “Toxic Twins.” According to Robichaud, the nickname reflects the duo’s high-energy, high-octane presence on the court. Together, they have posted a 12-1 career record, including a 10-match win streak to begin their partnership.

“Kendal is a born leader,” Robichaud said. “She is always present, accountable, respectful, and respected. She is like having a second coach, both on the sidelines and on the court. She is the type of player around whom programs are built. She is helpful with our younger players but also confident enough to speak to the full team when things are not being done correctly.”

“Something that Coach Robichaud has taught me is to stay grounded and focused,” Hattabaugh said. “Resilience and determination are the keys to success and you can not improve at anything without putting time and effort into it.”

Although still more than a year away from graduation, Hattabaugh plans to attend a four-year college and major in either event planning or interior design. While she does not currently plan to play college tennis, she hopes to continue playing recreationally or through a club team.

In addition to tennis, Hattabaugh is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers with the unified basketball team. Outside of school, she enjoys playing guitar, going to church, skateboarding, baking, exercising, and spending time with friends.

“My favorite class at LHS was Guitar Lab, which I took freshman year with Mr. Bergeron,” Hattabaugh said. “It taught me the basics of guitar, which I have expanded on since. My favorite teacher I’ve had is Mr. Robichaud because he kept me engaged during his Honors American Studies class and is a very important role model to me.”

Hattabaugh has already made a lasting impression on the LHS girls tennis program in just two seasons.

“I look forward to working with Kendal for the balance of her tennis career here at Leominster High School. Her leadership and dedication to the program are unmatched.”