New Tennis Head Coach Daniel Stoltz has high expectations for his players on and off the court.
“It’s an awesome feeling and a big responsibility,” Stoltz said. “Coaching the varsity team is fun and an awesome experience. After all these years with varsity, it’s pretty much self-sufficient and they run like a well machine. Coach Lowe and myself, we just kind of walk around and guide them, instruct them and correct them.”
Team tennis consists of three different teams: varsity, JV, and the freshman team. Sophomore Aylin Granados has been playing for two years and is now playing with the JV team.
“Having a new head coach is fine,” Granados said. “It’s a good experience because he teaches us his ways and his new drills, and both coaches give us different experiences.”
Some tennis players start at an early age and some start when they first get to high school. Sophomore Janelle Garfield has been playing since middle school.
“I started off with pickleball just a little bit but I didn’t like it,” Garfield said. “So I started tennis in sixth grade [and] I stayed with it.”
Sophomore Naomi Nava loves playing tennis because it’s relaxing and she gets to meet new people.
“It’s really peaceful and being on the team is just amazing,” Nava said.”I have bonds with more people.”
Having a new head coach can sometimes be scary or even different, or it might not feel different to some.
“I think it’s cool,” Garfield said. “Coach Lowe is still there but it’s really not different with a new coach.
Nava, along with Garfield and Granados, struggled their freshman year playing, but eventually they got better and started gaining bonds and new friendships.
“I love playing tennis, it’s a different sport that [I would] not usually be playing,” Granados said. “I know it’s just a racket and a ball, but if you get to know it, it’s a really fun sport to play and I’ve gotten many friendships from this team.”
