MUNCIE, Ind. – Indiana high school tennis sectionals start this week, and the Shenandoah Raiders are making their final preparations.
The varsity team is composed of upperclassmen who fell short in last year's sectional against New Castle High School. This season has been a different story, as the Raiders took down the Trojans earlier this season.
“We took down New Castle already this season,” Cooper Allen said. “We feel good, just trying to stay loose and get ready for the game.”
Staying loose has been a prominent theme for the team this season. Head coach John Rhodes emphasized the importance of staying loose and keeping tennis fun for his team. He also credits winning for keeping morale high.
“Winning is great because the morale just stays a lot longer,” Rhodes said. “It goes on three or four days after we win something and just really lifts us up.”
Keeping morale high is another focus of the Raiders this season. Many players on the team commented on the importance of holding each other up.
“Our team definitely plays better when we are relaxed and not when we’re tense,” DJ Glentzer said. “Being relaxed and happy is a good way to go into sectional.”
Shenandoah’s #1 doubles team exemplifies morality for the team. Doubles partners are there for each other to keep their morale high throughout the match.
“He always keeps me motivated,” Christian Dyer said. “When I’m having a rough day, he always picks me up.”
Teamwork has been a large part of Rhodes’ life. He is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in the Vietnam War. Rhodes uses that experience in his coaching as well, pulling from all aspects of his life.
“It’s kind of hard to say unless you’ve been to war,” Rhodes said. “I would take any of these guys with me if I was in battle.”
Contact Josh Gabbard with comments at Joshua.Gabbard@bsu.edu.
