North’s varsity girls tennis team has started their season boasting a 3-1 record.
The team had an exceptional 11-2 record last season, but this year provides new challenges for the girls in the form of lineup changes and the introductions of new JV coach Tristan Romero and Jake Tudorica, the new varsity head coach.
“These new coaches don’t know how we played, so lineups are being changed frequently so that they can evaluate where we can all fit in their system,” senior doubles player Avery Yates said. “It takes some getting used to, but it’s also a good way to show your skills.”
Despite these changes,Tudorica is impressed with how well the varsity team looks early in the season.
“Changing coaches can be hard for even the most seasoned athletes, so I understood if we needed time to adjust,” Tudorica said. “I had heard they were good, but I was blown away with how well they were able to adapt and succeed.”
The ability to handle bumps in the road was thanks in part to the togetherness of the team and how close they have gotten over the years.
“We have become like a family,” senior Alexis Carlson said. “A lot of us on varsity have been playing with each other for a while, so we can help each other through things we are struggling with in order to become better.”
The team is full of talented individuals such as juniors Jessica Kovalcik and Thea Salcedo who made it to state in their sophomore year, and this season is all about taking what they have learned over their years improving on their success.
“The varsity team has a lot of athletes who know what it feels like to do well, so now it’s about using that feeling and their experience to go to even greater heights,” Romero said.
Senior doubles player Riley McClellan is optimistic about the team’s chances of achieving greatness.
“We have a lot of girls who are more than capable of making it to state,” McClellan said. “As long as we keep on motivating one another and maintaining a positive environment, the sky’s the limit.”
Weather has been another factor that has hindered the team, with exceptionally hot temperatures preventing games and practices from occurring.
“Some of our outdoor practices have been brutal, and we have already had to reschedule a few of our games because it has been so hot out,” senior Meredith Posant said. “We don’t let it get us down too much, but it certainly can affect people’s moods and how well they perform.”
