The tennis season for the Joliet West Tiger girls is coming to an end, to refresh the season, varsity girls tennis is currently at a record of 11 – 20 – 1. With 11 game wins, 20 game loses, and 1 tied game.

Girls Varsity has a game on 10/13 and 10/14 and this is when they will play in their sectional games. On 10/04 and 10/05 they played in their conference matches and were able to move on up. Yet, although these specific games held a lot of pressure and anticipation, they were not the only important games to the season. The girls tennis team had their very first match of the season on 08/19 for both Varsity and JV, and they have been working extremely hard in their matches ever since. Junior Varsity was supposed to have their last game of the season on 10/03 but it was canceled so the match they had on 10/02 ended up being their last.

However, even though the season is nearly over, it is never too late to start. Freshman Lauren Krohn on the JV tennis team proves that no matter when someone starts, it is the dedication put in that matters. Tennis is a game filled with focus, teamwork, and communication. These qualities are not only learned from playing tennis, they are also learned throughout life, background in tennis is not needed to try something new. Krohn emphasizes this when she states, “Playing with my family, especially my sister, taught me how to communicate with a partner when playing doubles”. The 2023 tennis season was the first time that she had played on a competitive team, yet she continuously holds her own on the court because she possesses these traits.

There are also several other new attributes that have been added to the tennis team, some of these including the new coach. Coach Covelli, although in her first year of coaching this tennis team, has already made a huge difference. Previous to this year Covelli coached Badminton, and she still does, both being racket sports there are several similarities that help her coach her team. She has gained the trust of her athletes, helping them gain confidence in both themselves and their own skills. While also working them hard enough so they improve and build off of the skills they already have. Coach Covelli corroborates, “In terms of the sports it all comes down to footwork and being able to move on the court in a timely manner to get to the ball. We have emphasized that in the season this year and have seen major improvement on both Varsity and JV”. Reiterating how even though skills are not born overnight, doesn’t mean they cannot be improved upon.

Lauren Krohn cannot be the only person who is considering trying out tennis, she didn’t knock it before she tried it, no one else should either. Every girl that is currently on the team had to start somewhere, and now they are out there demolishing the competition. In order to have no regrets you must carpe diem, seize the day.