The Hillcrest Tennis team takes pride in what they do. Although they love playing and practicing, all the players find the bonding to be most important. “I can go to my teammates outside of tennis too, they are more than just my teammates. We are all like one big family, I guess, and I love it,” Kylie Tran (11) said. Without each other, they probably would not have had as much fun as they would have if they didn’t make practice together great every time.
Through this season, they’ve faced many challenges, including the weather, but they confide in each other to power through. People think that tennis is a very minimalist sport, and that it is a “mind over matter” sport. This can be true, but the players have shown how much it means to them to be on the tennis team, and how much they enjoy it. Sometimes a struggle is needed to overcome a challenge.The players have to work hard to overcome the mental blocks that can come with the sport. “I would say my coaches help my mental block the most because they help motivate me to do good during practices and matches. Another thing that helps me is my partners because they push me to my limit and help me realize I am better than I believe,” Addie Lamp (11) said.
The coaches are a big help and inspiration to the players. A lot of players have explained how, without their coaches, they would not be able to enjoy and relish in their sport. Being part of the Hillcrest Tennis team is a bigger deal than you would think. Just like every sport, there is a bumpy road that doesn’t end. There are ups and downs, but definitely, more good than bad. “My favorite memory is when our tournament got canceled in Pocatello, and we went to lava hot springs. We even went to Walmart to buy swimsuits and the bonding experience was a memory I’ll never forget,” Tran said. It is more than just a sport to them, it’s like a second home where they can fit in. Tennis has brought lots of happiness and joy to each and everyone of their players and wouldn’t trade it for the world.
