Tennis Season Arrives to Early Successes

Boys’ Tennis season is already well underway at Arrowhead High School.

With this sport only lasting about two months, every week is jam packed. The Varsity and JV teams were determined over spring break, however both teams began to practice everyday from 3-4pm at the beginning of April.

When the boys aren’t practicing, they are competing in matches. Both teams have two to four matches a week, with tournaments taking place on every Saturday. With Sundays being the only tennis-free day of the week, being on Arrowhead’s Tennis team is a full time job.

But regardless of the full schedule, expectations are high for this 2016 Tennis season, according to Arrowhead senior Connor Schanen.

“Varsity has a high chance of doing good at State, and JV is coming into this year as the favorite for their conference by a long shot,” says Schanen, who has been on the team for four years. He says his goal this season is for him and his double’s partner to stay undefeated throughout their conference match.

Next fall Schanen will be a freshmen at Cornell University, and plans to be on their tennis team as well. But for now Schanen is enjoying Arrowhead’s team.

“My favorite part [of tennis] is the high intensity play that comes with almost every match,” he says.

The team manager, senior Maddie Kopecky says, “I hope that the team will do well against all of their opponents and that they make it to state.”

Kopecky says that the team is starting strong. All doubles teams are dominating nearly all their matches; however, she says some singles have started off a bit rocky due to the skill of their opponents.

“[They’re] improving more and more each meet,” says Kopecky. “I think the main area that the team is hoping to improve on is remaining consistent throughout the match.”

“The team this year is very unique, and I’m enjoying getting to know all of the guys,” she says, “They’re hilarious!”

Spencer Dahlman is currently a junior experiencing his first year at Arrowhead and with the tennis team.

“It’s been fun being on a new team with a brand new group of guys. They all have great personalities and we’ve already started to bond like a family,” says Dahlman.

Still only a few weeks in, the conference match is already on everyone’s minds.

“I hope to achieve a first place conference victory with all of my teammates this season,” says Dahlman. “I would love nothing more than my team and I to win.”

Dahlman’s goals are to work to become a more dynamic player this season, by focusing in on his serves and angles.

Dahman said, “There is nothing better than going back and forth against the opponent and then pulling out to win the match at the end. It makes all the hours practicing totally worth it.”

Dahlman’s least favorite part, however, he says is whenever there’s an incident of “double faulting.” With any tennis match, the server has two chances to hit the ball within the opponent’s service box, if it’s hit outside the service box or not in the box at all, the opponent gets a point.

However Dahlman still can’t deny his love for the game.

“Overall it’s a great sport, and I’m so happy to be playing here.”