Dragon Varsity Tennis started the year by winning six matches. The team has made many improvements over the years and is looking forward to spring, now that the fall season has come to a close.
“Our team definitely got more competitive against teams we used to struggle playing against, and we’re winning more of these games,” Coach Cullen Holmes said. “The team’s improvement is evident, and the program is still growing.”
Tennis has become more popular on campus over the years, and 2023 was the first year that there were enough players for a varsity and junior varsity team. The team has improved in size, skill, and their commitment is evident in not only their games, but their rigorous training.
“My advice is to start practicing now and keep getting better,” varsity player Lilli Nicholas said. “Even if it’s difficult at first, you’ll get better with practice over time.”
During the fall season, the team practices on Mondays and Wednesdays. Varsity has games on Thursday, while junior varsity has games on Tuesday.
“Some people might say it’s too difficult to get started”, Gabby Chavarria said. “You need to have a lot of time, commitment, and discipline.”
On the surface, sports are about showcasing an athlete’s competitive nature and earning titles and rewards, but tennis offers more. Many of the players use tennis as an opportunity to build closer friendships and relationships with their teammates and players from other schools.
“I feel like I’ve gotten to meet a variety of people and to create better friendships through tennis,” varsity player Colin Murphy said. “I’ve also gained more advice to help me advance in skill. When you’re really passionate about something like tennis, you can gain so much from it.”
So far, the varsity team has won its matches against Spring Hill, Pine Tree, Marshall, Hudson, Jacksonville, and Mount Pleasant, ending the season 6-7
“We’re going to continue to improve, try to win more matches, and strive to make it to the playoffs.” Coach Cullen Holmes said.
