After a lengthy tryout and selection period, the tennis team is ready for the season. Varsity and JV players have both put in considerable effort before their first game of the season, practicing two times a week in West Homewood.
Tennis coach Terrance Cobb describes the three-day tryout process for the teams.
“Basically, we watch their ability and then we have them play each other,” Cobb said, “Everybody doesn’t play every single person, but you pair them up…by watching them, and you can see how they do.”
Cobb explains what they added during the pre-tennis season and the athletes positive performances.
“During the fall, we utilized what the state offered us whereas we are able to make contact with our athletes for at least two hours every week, just to keep them playing and get some of the newer kids used to the high school coaches,” Cobb said. “That was something new, and we could tell even starting this season they are better prepared.”
Junior Grace Parkinson first began playing in her home of Paderborn, Germany. She explains that there are several benefits to playing tennis for Homewood.
“[It is] helpful in all different ways you can think of,” Parkinson said, “Character development and finding friends who have the same interests, the same struggles, the same backhand or forehand serve; you bond over stuff like that.”
Specifically, she appreciates the way HHS allows student-athletes to leave school grounds during seventh period for practice.
“Homewood makes it pretty simple,” Parkinson said, “You get the chance to leave school grounds earlier to go to the tennis courts and practice…Homewood allows you to take that time.”
Parkinson’s varsity teammate Leila Jarvis-Dabila also learned valuable lessons through tennis.
“Through tennis, I’ve learned to be able to control my emotions because in pressure situations, you need to learn to be calm and still focus on your techniques,” Jarvis-Dabila said.
Jarvis-Dabila adds why it is important for students to have extracurricular activities, like tennis.
“I feel like it’s important to do at least one extracurricular when you’re in high school,” Jarvis-Dabila said, “You meet new people and experience what it is like to work with other people as well and to have a good balance.”
The varsity and junior varsity teams have different goals for the upcoming season, such as introducing new kids to the sport and preparing to face top opponents across the state.
“For me, [I am] hoping these kids live up to their ability. We got really good kids, and we got kids that are now getting serious about tennis,” Cobb said. “For varsity, ideally, we want to qualify for state…For JV, [to] see how far they grow.”
Boys tennis holds a season record of 2-1 with their Feb. 18 sectional win over Shades Valley. The girls also beat Shades Valley 9-0 for their first game win of the season. Both teams will head to Jasper for the Senfa Slam Tournament Feb. 20.
