Building relationships and improving techniques, the young Texas High tennis team strives to improve for the next season.
Tennis coaches Ann Tarwater and Toby Watson lead the varsity tennis team through the rocky 2024 Fall season.
“We played against Mckinney North, which was a tough first round,” Tarwater said. “We played them in Sulphur Springs and lost 10-9. So that is kind of a heartbreak but we do have a young team and I think we’ll be even stronger next year.”
Toby Watson coached the tennis boys through the season and saw the strengths and weaknesses of past play.
“We had opportunities that we just didn’t take advantage of,” Watson said. “The boy’s team really played solid in that match. We just couldn’t close the door to win.”
The boys tennis now concentrate on improving technique in practice and drills.
“We are working on specific things in their game like working on more variety,” Watson said. “More on slice and drop shots and also their endurance and conditioning.”
Similar strategies spread through the entirety of the tennis team. Junior varsity tennis player, Taylor Seifert identified areas she needed to improve upon in her offseason.
“I plan to work on my running more,” Seifert said. “Also more on my footwork.”
Junior, Griffin White, plays on varsity and strives to do his very best.
“I am continuing to play matches outside of school with friends or at different tournaments to continue to get match experience,” White said. “I also go to the gym to continue working on cardio and core strength.”
Having specific strategies helps the tennis team to improve their game play to win their matches.
“The girls are working on adding more variety to their game,” Tarwater said. “The girls need to add more topspin to their serves.”
Tarwater pushes the girls to do their very best. The girls already possess the right mindset making it easier for coach to do her job.
“We have a great group of girls and we have lots of freshmen,” Tarwater said. “I’d say half the girl’s teams are freshmen so that’s always fun because they’re always hungry and eager.”
