As the Warren Central boys tennis team’s season continues, so does the path to sectionals and beyond. Over the past couple of years, the team’s main objective has been to compete at regionals. Even though only a few players have made it there in the last couple of seasons, their goal this year remains the same.
With the hope to make it to regionals, the team has been putting a lot of practice and preparation into improving the players’ skills. Coaches and players alike are focusing on the team's weaknesses and trying their best to improve them along with working their way towards their end goal.
“We are playing more invitationals to get ready for that heavy competition, better competition, that's more intense, and that's just how regionals are,” head coach Jonn Patterson said.
The coaches are also specifically working on different things for each player to hopefully improve their game as a whole.
“Last year I wasn't anything special at the net so this year [our] coach has really focused on helping me at the net, and so far it seems to have been working well,” junior Jack Basham said.
Not only are the players building up their individual skills, they are also making sure to build a good team dynamic and relationship with both the players they know and the ones they don’t.
“My relationship with the team is competitive,” junior Braylen Horne said. “I love seeing the underclassmen get better, and I love playing matches against everyone and just getting better. The coaches are the pillars of our team, morale support, are very knowledgeable about tennis and have a lot to teach.”
Improving their game isn’t the only thing the members of the tennis team have to do to reach regionals. Tournaments like invites, M.I.C. and sectionals are just as important to the team as regionals because they can help the group reach their goal.
Horne has set personal goals for himself and his team this season involving these tournaments.
“My goal for this season is to stay consistent and place well in M.I.C.,” Horne said.
Horne’s teammate, junior Isaac Wilson, has his own goals for the season and beyond.
“My personal goal is to win sectionals,” Wilson said.
Overall, the Warren Central boys tennis team is nothing short of determined to reach regionals this year and complete their goal. No matter what, they said they are going to give it their all in every match and tournament they compete in and plan on having a successful season this school year.