The tennis cohort owned the courts
By Caleb Parker
Picture of the Owasso Tennis Courts taken by Caleb Parker
Tennis balls and gridded nets have once again been seeing their fair share of flair, with flying yellows blurs complimenting the drab hues that misrepresent the intensity of the heated sport. Spectacles of motion that moved in accordance with the players’ arms found their way back to the dusty rackets tucked away in the winter time, and the sun welcomed the Owasso Tennis Team back to the courts for yet another climactic season. However, new challenges—as well as new coaches and training—made their debut following the start of the season in March, creating a different atmosphere than the years before.
As the tennis season started, many players were ready to approach the sport with a fresh perspective, knowing that new assistant coaches Sonnie Simons and John Dalaeli, as well as returning assistant coach Austin Reynolds, would be able to support main coach Billy Baysinger.
Senior Olivia Garrett talks about the benefits of having multiple tennis veterans to branch out and support the players during difficult matches.
“It definitely helps having extra coaches because when we go to tournaments … we have to have someone at the courts for practice.”
Garrett continues, saying how the extra coaches’ attentiveness helps the players so that “they’re not alone” and can breathe easier from the support while on the court.
“[Coaches like] Reynolds, [Dalaeli] and [Simons] were the ones that were actually coming onto the courts, like, when we were playing … and giving us advice and watching us. Stuff like that,” Garrett said, praising her advisors.
One March tournament at the Owasso 8th Grade tennis courts went swimmingly for the girls JV team. Garrett recalls how she lost her first match, but won the rest of her rounds in the tournament.
“I got consolation, which … basically means you win the loser’s bracket. It’s if you lose your first [match] and then win all the ones after,” Garrett explained.
The players did phenomenal at this competition, with a few of Garrett’s teammates earning first place and third place in their divisions. However, the tournament’s playing time felt awkward and unusual by many, due to overbearing winds that ripped tennis balls out of many players’ hands mid-match.
Many of the team’s practices and tournaments were postponed during the season due to inclement weather, heavy rain and detrimental wind storms.
“The ball won’t bounce,” says Sophomore Isabella Williams, describing the disappointing effects of rainy and windy weather on tennis. “[The ball] becomes so heavy that it just drops … [and] we still have to play through the wind.”
Picture of JV Tennis match taken by Caleb Parker
Although rain and snow storms caused tournaments to be cancelled, competitions were still held despite the raging, windy weather—making it difficult to play and utilize new strategies.
Williams continues, saying that “[the weather] makes it super hard to throw the ball in the air.”
Regardless, the Owasso tennis team still powered through the season in their competitions. The brilliant players and coaches alike have recognized the importance of managing time and practice effectively, leading to the assistant coaches’ addition to the team during the spring semester. It doesn’t take much to see that these new coaches have established the practices’ desired outcomes. This has proved more than successful with the tennis season’s results—despite the season’s trifling weather, which failed to affect the hearts and minds of the tennis team.