The ongoing success of the Northwood Girls Tennis team this 2021-2022 school year has excited players and active followers of the sport. The hard work and dedication from the team shows as there have been seven wins for the tennis team out of a total of eight conference games.
One win in particular stands out to junior Beckett Brantley.
“We beat Cedar Ridge, which is the hardest team that we’ve played,” Brantley said. “I believe it was two weeks ago when we talked about mental mindset and not getting defeated when you’re not doing great.”
Junior Mattie Holland believes it’s important for team members to show one another support.
“A strength the tennis team has is being able to focus on mental and physical aspects of the sport,” Holland said. “Tennis is the most mentally difficult sport, so having your teammates cheer you on and encouraging words from our coach is super helpful. We are all so good about being there for one another.”
The athletes on the tennis team cite each other’s friendship as a highlight of their experience. Junior Hailey Hirschman appreciates her camaraderie with her teammates.
“My favorite part [of tennis] is definitely the social aspect,” Hirschman said. “Getting to hang out with a team of fun girls after school is always a good end to my school day!”
Along with encouragement from the coach and other players, players’ passion for their sport motivates them to do well in their matches.
“I started hitting with my mom who has played her whole life and I really found I enjoyed it and wanted to improve,” senior Evie Dallmann said. “The Northwood tennis team offered a conducive environment for learning and applying it to real games.”
The tennis team is enthusiastic about for the remainder of the season, especially one event in particular.
“I am excited for senior night on October 7,” Holland said. “Chapel Hill [High School] is a tough school to beat, so we need all the support!”
If you want to cheer on the girls tennis team against Chapel Hill, head out to the Northwood courts on Thursday, Oct. 7 at 4:00 PM. Tickets are $6 per person.
