Girls’ tennis serves on and off the court
Serve. Swing. Hit. Going through the motions ingrained in their head, the Newbury Park High School girls’ tennis team is off to a great start. With different teammates and a new coach, the student athletes have been working hard to adjust to the changes that come with the 2024 season.
Sandra Hutchins, the head coach, is facing new opportunities and lessons during her first year mentoring the team. She hopes to create the same memories for the players that tennis gave her. “Tennis has given so much to my life and I wanted student athletes to have the opportunities to experience all the benefits that sports participation can provide,” Hutchins said. She enjoys the many accomplishments that come with her position, but her favorite is watching the players not only grow as athletes, but also as individual people throughout the season.
Coaching comes with many obstacles that serve as a way to learn how to enhance one’s teaching style. Hutchins is constantly striving to grow in her coaching abilities. “My biggest coaching challenge is managing my time to make sure every athlete is getting the coaching they deserve communicated in a way that is most effective for them,” Hutchins said.
Chloe Um, senior, is a four-year team member and also one of this season’s team captains. She enjoys carrying the responsibilities that come with her role and is eager for any feedback given by the team. “We lead warm up every day, and we also have communication between the coach and the team and we open ourselves to any questions or feedback that the younger players might have about anything,” Um said.
Um often finds herself turning to her teammates for support, and she values the uplifting environment created by the team. “Honestly, the people on the team really keep me motivated, because we’re such a tight group, so we feed off each other’s energy,” Um said. She hopes to make the most out of her senior year and continue to grow to be the best version of herself. “I’m looking forward to just making good last memories on the team and hopefully getting some wins and just getting better as a player and as a leader,” Um said.
Another captain this season is Shea Grohs, senior, and she is continuing on with her third year being a part of the tennis team. She especially loves the team’s high spirits during practices and matches. “We have a really good mindset individually and I think we have a lot of drive. We [also] motivate each other because we’re always like making cheers for each other and congratulating each other,” Grohs said.
Some tasks she and the other captains are in charge of include leading the team cheers, organizing the banquet and designing team merchandise. “We’re in charge of calling our lineup and doing a little pep talk before the matches,” Grohs said. Practices after school allow her to relax and not have to worry about school or homework right away. “It gives me an escape in a way, and I feel like that helps me focus later on my homework too,” Grohs said.
What truly matters is that each player has, and is continuously, learning more about themselves and creating new memories both on and off the court throughout the season. “Our overall record does not reflect how hard these athletes are working and how much improvement is being made each match. They are all doing a great job,” Hutchins said.
