Athletes of the Week: Loomis, Stewart living up to

While it may be a bit much to call the Stewarts’ participation in Norwich tennis a dynasty, there certainly is a long-standing legacy, especially when it comes to doubles play.

“Our family has been a doubles family, we really don’t play singles,” said Norwich head varsity girls tennis coach, John Stewart. “Doubles is pretty much ingrained in (the kids) from a young age.”

Perhaps there are some expectations to live up to as a member of the Stewart clan, and Norwich sophomores Bryn Loomis and her cousin Sophie Stewart are living up to the family tradition.

Bryn’s mother, Betsy Loomis (Stewart) won three straight Section IV, Class B doubles titles in the early ‘80s with partner Rona Stanfield. Betsy’s daughter Bryn is well on her way to matching those three titles as she and Sophie Stewart claimed the Section IV Class B tennis title last week at Owego Free Academy.

Loomis and Stewart helped guide Norwich to a second-place team showing in sectional scoring, its best finish in several years, and that accomplishment earns the duo our weekly honor as Smith Ford LLC/Evening Sun Athletes of the Week.

“This is something that they have thought about for a long, long time,” said coach John Stewart. “Playing doubles together was a childhood thought and dream for them. I don’t think there was any question that they would be playing doubles together.”

While playing tennis was a family activity, the two became more serious about their game around sixth grade, coach Stewart said. Loomis and Sophie Stewart made regular trips to the local tennis courts with their grandfather, John Stewart, a longtime well-regarded player in the area. “(My dad) had a big influence on how Sophie and Bryn play,” Coach Stewart said.