The Boys Tennis season has finally arrived, and there are many expectations for the team. The team has moved home courts every year for the last three years, but they have finally found a place to settle at the Fountain Valley Tennis Center. For the first time in the program’s history, there are three teams which include a varsity team and two JV teams. 

While the tennis team constantly moved different courts, some major improvements have also been made through the years with the help of Head Tennis Coach Debbie Shaffer. Senior Nico Naughton is the only senior on the team, and he has been through all of the team’s ups and downs through the years.

The program has evolved a lot since my first year,” Naughton said. “In my first year we had one team and went through three coaches until [Coach] Debbie became our coach in the middle of the season. Now in my last year, our program has three teams which is something I never thought would happen.”

Now in his final season, Naughton has set high goals for himself and the team, which involve staying focused and driven.

“My expectations going into my final season is that our team will always put in 100% effort whether we win or lose,” Naughton said. 

As a team sport, tennis heavily relies on individual performance, while also integrating effective communication between players. Sophomore Noah Hoffman is motivated by these aspects of the game to grow in his mindset and physical skill.

“My expectations are to continue to improve my game both physically and mentally,” Hoffman said. “I want to become a more consistent and strategic player. I’ve learned that tennis at the high school level is not just about individual skill but also teamwork and collaboration.”

With the program still growing, there are many more ideas the athletes have that could make the program better as a whole, including more opportunities to connect with teammates.  

“I wish that there would be more team bonding events outside of tennis practice,” Hoffman said. “I think it is important for the team to connect in general not just on the court,”

Players on the team have also begun preparing for upcoming challenges, as they head into the regular season. Junior Charlie Lowe shares his preparations for this season. 

“To prepare for the season, I find time to practice with my out-of-school coaches and especially my friends,” Lowe said. “My favorite part about playing tennis is that you can make friends with the members of the team and then practice with just a few of them. I’ve made so many memories of playing with my close friends, not only having fun but also improving,”

Being an upperclassman, Lowe has some different kinds of expectations compared to others around him. He is more focused on the bigger picture of the team, as he hopes that the team improves in every field throughout the season.

“My expectations for this year are just to improve in all aspects,” Lowe said. “We’ve had a very strong start to the season so far, and I think we have a really good team this year. I think that we’re going to go far.”

After high school, everyone is bound to go their own separate ways. Whether it’s to play professional tennis, or club tennis for college, or for fun with friends and family, tennis allows people to have fun and relax with the people they love most. 

“One thing I will miss from Mater Dei are my coaches and teammates,” Naughton said. “They have been a big part of my tennis journey, and I couldn’t be more grateful for them.”