Tennis is a sport of control, form, and tradition. In the pros, the game is set up to where athletes can be a singles or doubles player, or even both. Rolla High School boy’s tennis team is set up so that the JV and varsity teams practice on and off season as a unit. Their team also offers players a chance to play doubles or singles with their teammates.
“I like the independence factor that is involved in the sport. Unlike team sports, winning or losing isn’t based on the performance of the team, but the performance of the individual,” number five ranked sophomore, Jarod Reith, said.
An independent game such as tennis can lead to disagreements and losses on the court where a cohesive, communicable team triumphed. However, due to this isolative nature, the tennis team has worked harder to create a stronger bond between the teammates.
“I believe our team is strong and united. We have a well-balanced set of players that offers a variety of personalities,” Reith said.
The environment of united players with individualistic motives in matches results in an interesting atmosphere for the team.
“I’m not sure. Tennis is very individual, and it’s not like the whole team is playing the same game. With each person playing their own game, the environment is much more relaxed and the tension is much less present,” number eleven ranked sophomore, Ryan Priesmeyer, said.
Relaxation on a team can sometimes come from the reassurance that your teammate has been playing the game for years, or that their love of the game goes beyond experience.
“Probably like when I was ten I first picked up a racket. I did Optimist Tennis during the summers for four or five years,” Priesmeyer said.
Another aspect to the game is competition season; the adrenaline that accompanies the first serve, the whoosh of the ball sailing over the net. Most of all, however, competition season is about winning and losing.
“I like away matches because I always feel more pressured at home, like friends and family watching and everything. But at away matches I’m more relaxed,” number fourteen ranked sophomore, Luke Walker, said.
Despite individualism being one of the main reasons athletes are attracted to tennis, some people play because there isn’t any other appealing alternatives offered at their schools.
“In ninth grade, Bava Balakrishnan and I were the only ones at our lunch table that didn’t do a sport, so we both felt that we should do a sport. So we just decided tennis, because why not? And the school doesn’t offer shooting, so I couldn’t really do that,” Walker said.
Even though some people are drawn to the sport because of different reasons, they are all there for the same reason: to play the game successfully. A wide variety of personalities and social groups mix together in the high school, but are left at the gate when the boys convene to play the game they all love.
“My favorite thing about tennis is the people I’ve met, I’ve competed year round in the USTA (United State Tennis Association) and met some amazing people and made some really cool friends. The most appealing thing about the sport is that fact that I only have to worry and think about myself and what I am doing. Like most other sports, there are multiple people on the court or field with you, and you all to coordinate and rely on each other to do the best they can do. What I like most about tennis is that I only have to rely on myself, it’s just me, the ball and my opponent. Once I’m on the court, everything fades out,” number one ranked varsity, Nathan Graham, said.
Due to the multiple personalities and different players on the court, competition season is rapt with opportunities for victories for the team. The team has spent many weeks practicing and striving for matches at the end of the year that will bring them their success.
“Our varsity is really good. Nathan Graham is in the lead at number one and he’s very good, and he usually wins his matches, as does the rest of varsity. I think we are up for a challenge, but as long as we keep our heads in the game, we’ll be fine,” Priesmeyer said.
