Tennis: meet the coach

MC’s varsity tennis team is still going strong at the season continues.

The varsity tennis team’s current score is 9-5.

“Student athletes have to embrace the team concept and support their teammates through thick and thin,” Coach Jim Wrage said.

This season is coach Wrage’s sixth year as a varsity tennis coach.

“[Tennis] is a highly skilled game that requires instantaneous problem solving, fluid and explosive movement and great balance,” Wrage said.

With a fast paced and action filled game such as tennis, you cannot afford to lose your concentration.

“You have to learn to trust your instincts and be very self-sufficient,” Wrage said.

Having a team that focuses and works together so well is the product of a strong team.

“Our guys get along well and the upperclassmen support the younger players so that everyone can feel they are a part of something bigger than themselves,” Wrage said.

As the team playoffs come closer, so does the pressure for the team to do well.

“We have a long history of making the playoffs, we have always made quarterfinals on the boy’s side for five years so we expect to do the same this year,” Wrage said.

To achieve this goal, the team practices every day after school.

“We work on a lot of different things to improve our chances of winning in addition to working on match play during practice,” Wrage said.

Two types of matches are playing individually, or with a partner.

“You have to be willing to do a lot of running. Singles players may run as much as two or three miles during a match,” Wrage said.

As the season continues, so do the player’s opportunities to do well in their matches.

“You have to be willing to put yourself out there and to compete 100 percent of the time if you want to do well.” Wrage said. “You have to be willing to practice with a purpose every day so that you can help the team achieve success.”

Along with being a great sport to play with your teammates, tennis can help academically as well.

“You learn to be focused for long periods of time and so you get benefits beyond tennis as well,” Wrage said. “It’s probably no coincidence that the tennis team was the all-academic team for the country and state last year.”

Best of luck as the season continues, and as the playoffs come closer to MC’s varsity tennis team.