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As the girls’ tennis season slowly comes to a close, NS reflects on the success they’ve seen both on and off the courts.
In this year’s season, the team has won several meets. They have beaten schools such as Millard, Delta, and Gunnison. With region tennis fast approaching, the team is focused on preparation.
The team credits their positive attitude and strong work ethic as the key to all of their success. They understand that without it they don’t play as well.
“Winning is important, that’s our job to help kids be the best they can be,” assistant coach Cynthia Bedford said, “but it’s not the only thing.”
Bedford, along with the head coach Matt Braithwaite, want the girls to establish a love and respect for the game. Part of their coaching philosophy teaches the girls to be the best version of themselves in life and as tennis players.
Bedford and Braithwaite strongly believe in the power of positivity. As coaches they focus on this often and the girls understand its importance. The team environment truly reflects how much they value this idea.
“I know it’s easy to kind of get frustrated,” senior Morgan Drew said. “You don’t want to go to practice some days because life’s just busy and it’s hard, but if I bring positive energy every day, then I hope that it reflects off of me onto [the younger girls] so that they can be positive and want to go to practice every day and want to better themselves.”
Drew is a varsity player and has played for the high school team since her freshman year. With lots of experience, Drew understands how much work it takes and how hard it can be. However, in the end she realizes that it’s worth it.
This year the team has six seniors. Along with the coaches, Drew and her fellow seniors automatically become leaders on the team. They strive to set an example for the younger girls.
“They’re out here right at 3 o’clock every day,” Bedford said. “They’re not here one minute after, they’re there at three. They’ve got those kids running. We go through a routine with them once, they pick up on it, they change. They may add a few things but they are one top of it. Every kid of the team respects them.”
Bedford truly loves the girls and she’s so grateful for their strong leadership on the team. The seniors help pick out uniforms and they make announcements to the girls. This helps them to create a sense of unity on the team, and it makes them stronger as a whole.
Support is another key part of the team’s success on the tennis court. The girls have learned that supporting your teammates helps to create that positive team environment and by bonding with each other, it brings love and support that helps them do their best on the court.
The coaches and the seniors strive every day to encourage positivity, hard work, and the support of one another. The main goal of the team is to try your best and to improve. The Benson sisters are a great example of this energy.
Junior Natalya Benson and her sister Abri Benson, who is a freshman, are new to the team this year. They quickly picked up the team’s goals and focus. The two play doubles together on Varsity. They’ve learned a ton and have improved so much throughout the season.
The Benson sisters are grateful for the seniors and coaches who provide such a great example and support them no matter what. They’re both so glad they decided to join the team.
“The coaches are really good at helping you along the way, even if you’ve just started,” said Natalya Benson. “All of the girls are so inviting, everyone is there to help you get better.”
Bedford loves each and everyone of the girls. She loves to watch them win, but she more importantly loves to see them grow closer together and be happy. The team understands that without their support of one another, hard work, and positive attitudes, they wouldn’t be where they are today. The girls tennis team is a great example for all of NS.
