Excited, motivated and determined for improvement, the boys’ tennis team is ready for a new season of hard work and matches.
Last year, the team didn’t meet expectations, finishing the season with a record of 2-13. One reason for this was the many key players who had graduated, leaving the lineup in a tough spot.
“We had four seniors who left,” varsity player Evan Pandes said. “Two of them were on singles, and the other two were our doubles one, so that definitely hurt our lineup.”
Although tough, it benefited the team by allowing them to build their skills.
“They were very good as a team; they united nicely towards the end, especially,” head tennis coach Kim Grant said. “I thought they grew a lot. They got a lot of experience.”
Throughout these changes, the team’s spirit stayed high.
“They always came … excited to practice and matches; they were great,” Grant said.
The team’s spirit is continuing into this year, with the team coming in ready to shift from rebuilding to competing.
“This season, we’re gonna build a team,” Grant said. “Last year I was working more on technique, but this time, I want to do a little bit more game development and really get the team as better partners.”
The boys’ tennis team is a very tight-knit group, and with many new players joining this year, they hope to maintain this circle.
“I hope we can build a community and work together during practice to have a good strategy going into our matches and then perform a little better than last year,” Pandes said.
The lineups aren’t the only change this season. For the past several years, the boy’s junior varsity team has not had enough players and consequently hasn’t competed in a league. But with the many new freshmen joining the team this year, there are plans to change this.
“We have about 15 to 18 new players, and I think we’re definitely going to do another team where they can play many more matches this year,” Grant said.
With new plans for the season and an up-and-running junior varsity team, the boys’ tennis team is ready to make a strong showing this year.
“We’ll do way better this year,” Grant said. “[I’m excited] to see where this new team can go.”
