Despite the barriers COVID-19 has imposed upon all sports during Bear River’s 2020-21 school year, the tennis team is preparing and excited for the season to come.
COVID-19 has created many problems when it comes to planning sports games and practices, but tennis has found a way to still have some semblance of a season. While it will not be the typical, competitive season, there are still matches planned, and players have optimistic feelings as they step onto the court.
Coach Jeffrey Carrow and Junior Ryan Potts expressed their excitement for tennis starting up again.
“Tennis has started practicing,” said Carrow. “We have about 16 players on the team. We’re not super experienced but we’re getting better every day.”
“Practices have been going really well!” said Potts. “They’ve been super fun and lots of good memories have already been made.”
Sophomore Emma Tillgren and Senior Annabelle Owyoung added on to Potts’s comment, conveying their enthusiasm for the continuation of practices.
“[Practices] have been really good, I’ve gotten a lot of chances to socialize with more people and make more friends,” said Tillgren.
“The practices have been fun so far,” Owyoung said. “It’s nice to get outside and see people in person rather than through a screen.”
Coach Carrow explained that they will still be able to play matches, although the presence of COVID-19 has made it more difficult.
“COVID is a huge factor,” he explained. “We do not have a PVL league schedule, but I was able to hustle up 8 matches between Del Oro, Colfax, and Forest Lake.”
However, the players have noted that despite COVID-19, things look fairly similar to normal and they are still looking forward to the upcoming season.
“For me personally, practices aren’t too different compared to the previous season as tennis is generally a low-contact sport,” said Owyoung. “We wear masks to better mitigate the risk of transmitting COVID and there are fewer players than we usually have, but other than that, our season isn’t too different.”
Potts and Tillgren compared the differences in this season compared to the previous years, and while there are some changes, none are very disruptive.
“We aren’t actually competing this season,” Potts said. “We play matches against other schools, [but] they don’t count to anything, which has been interesting. However, [it] makes it more relaxed.”
“[The season is] slightly different– we have to wear masks,” said Tillgren. “That is really the only difference, so not too drastic.”
Regardless of the restrictions, the tennis team is thinking positively for a great season.
“There are less players than last year, but it is still just as fun,” Tillgren said.
Players are excited for their season and grateful for the chance to play despite all of the difficulties this year has brought.
“I’m glad that tennis was able to be held this year,” said Owyoung. “I feel that it’s important for students to return to playing sports, to have a little slice of normalcy, after this rough year.”
“Tennis has been a really good time so far and I enjoy it just as much as any other year,” Potts said. “I’ve missed being on the courts and just being able to see and play my teammates has been amazing.”
Coach Carrow expressed his happiness and anticipation of a great season.
“It is very fun still and the players are really enjoying being on the team and getting better at such an amazing sport,” said Coach Carrow. “We’re going to learn and play tennis for the sheer joy of it and I’m feeling very good about it.”
