Coming off of a stunning record of 14-5, Lambert Girls Tennis worked diligently on and off the court. The team made their way to the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) Elite 8 before losing to Walton High School in a tough match. Team Captain Bella Brown shares some insight into the match.
“The score was 2-3 and it came down to the final match, which was nerve wracking,” Brown noted.
The team lost 16 seniors this year, but they were determined to put in the work to be better than ever. Even though tennis is an individualized sport, they still do team bonding activities such as going out to dinner after matches to help build a family, not just a team.
“The highlight of my day is getting to talk to everyone and build each other up after losses or celebrate the night when we win,” Brown shared.
The players strive to improve their skills for every meet during practice and matches. Their coach sends them encouraging messages to remind them to stay focused prior to taking the court.
“This helps me because it allows me to visualize what my goals are going into the match, as well as how I’m going to set up points regardless of who I play, ” Brown mentioned.
Each player has to stay consistent and keep momentum throughout matches in order to come out with a win. The sport not only tests players physical abilities but their mental abilities as well.
“Last year, I played singles which was more challenging because I felt as if I had to play against two people: my opponent and myself, ” Brown said
While each player decides to compete as an individual or with a partner, Brown enjoys playing doubles because of the teamwork rather than feeling up against two people alone. This improves her mental game because she knows she is not alone on the court.
The team was able to accomplish their goal of ending the season strong through hard work and determination at practices and matches. The team will continue to train individually in the offseason to prepare for another great season next spring.
