During my twelve years at Knoch so far, I jumped from activity to activity, never really finding a sport or club that I felt completely infatuated with. I liked what I did, but let’s be honest, I wasn’t wholeheartedly involved in those activities. That was until I was watching the best sport ever on TV, Women’s Tennis, and it finally hit me like a Penn ball to the shin.
I’m going to try out for tennis.
Little did I know, I didn’t even need to try out, or worry about making JV vs. Varsity. I was automatically accepted onto the 10-player Varsity team, and man am I grateful for that. It’s hard to say what exactly inspired me to join that team, but I am so thankful that I did.
Senior Chloe Winters said, “My uncles played tennis, and I used to attend their games. Watching them play sparked my interest. I joined very late because I was in the Marching Band and a lot of the football games were at the same time as the tennis matches.”
Though I was accepted onto the team, the following problem lied before me: I had never played tennis before. What will I do now? Will the team think I’m incompetent, unworthy? Will the coach laugh in my face? Oh, who am I kidding, I would laugh at myself for my lack of skills. However, those questions were quickly answered with a no.
“I never played tennis before joining, but my coach and team were very helpful, making it easy to learn the rules quickly,” said Winters.
Just like Winters, I experienced lots of help from the coach & team, and within the first two weeks of straight practice, I had vastly improved. At the end-of-the-season banquet, I was awarded with “Most Improved.” That’s not anything to show off on my part, but it is truly the result of having a great team that helped me get to that spot.
Winters said, “I was proud of myself and the progress I had made in just two years.”
We are all proud of you too, Chloe. You in particular were a great captain. Not only because of your great playing but also because of your encouragement and pure joy to be on the court. I would say that the emotional connection on a team like ours, small and close-knit, is inevitably easier to harbor because we are a group of girls.
“It really depends on the people on the team,” said Winters. “I would say that my first year we were very separate and kept to ourselves, but my senior year I was committed to being a good leader and friend. It made all the difference to my connections with my teammates.”
Sometimes it’s awkward. Sometimes it’s hard to feel completely settled in. I even feel unworthy in my place now, wondering why my coach is sending me to help the new girls, when I myself still feel new sometimes. But most of the time, you can find your spot and make a nest there. Another question is your skill level in the sport itself. Maybe you think you won’t get absolutely perfect at it before the first game. But that’s the point.
Winters said, “My first year I felt disconnected and out of place. Everyone else had played before, and I was completely new to the sport. Fortunately, my coach taught me well and eventually I became very comfortable.”
I started off playing exhibition for a great number of the matches. Eventually I was promoted–probably for being an elite employee–to playing third singles. My coach had told her mom, who also helps coach the team, that I was improving so much, and that’s where I needed to be. Although playing singles feels lonely, I was able to take it on and win quite a few points. I’m glad I went for it that day. I wouldn’t change a thing.
You might regret not taking an opportunity just because at the time it felt too late. I know I wouldn’t have known what the heck to do with myself if I didn’t have tennis. And you can even make lifelong friends.
“Go into it with confidence and kindness. Be ready to make small talk, and try to learn about your teammates early on,” said Winters. “First impressions are important and key to making friends.”
My advice is: just do it. If it’s a sport or activity that you love watching or have a great interest in, why not join in on the fun? You may just find your place for a while.
Winters said, “Try to break out of your inner circle and let others in, you may find a new friend and make their day.”
