The boys’ varsity tennis team has a current record of 1 – 4, and the team is going through a tough season with a few ups and downs , senior Akshat Nakum said.
It’s more relaxed than other sports teams here at MHS, Nakum said.
“Even if you’re a beginner, there’s a high chance you can get on the JV team and improve over the course of the season,” Nakum said.
For Nakum, who has been playing tennis since elementary school, joining the team was a no-brainer, Nakum said. His growth over the years has been noticeable, especially his serves and forehand technique, he added.
“Compared to my freshman year, my serve has improved a lot,” Nakum said. “My wide serve is really strong now, and I can get a lot of free aces with it.”
Senior PaktoPaco Lau has been on the tennis team since his freshman year, Lau said. His journey started on JV and eventually led to him becoming the team captain, he said.
“Being the captain is very challenging, especially when it comes to getting everyone to agree on things like merch designs and team bonding activities,” Lau said.
The team culture is competitive, but with players supporting each other, that makes the team environment really positive, Lau said.
“We’re serious at practice, but we also have fun,” Lau said. “People have each other’s backs, and that makes the team environment really positive.”
Guidance to JV players during practice and games is really helpful as it helps them refine their technique and build confidence, Lau said.
“We’ve helped the JV players fix their serves a few times during practice,” Nakum said. “Just giving them little tips, like how to swing the racket properly, makes a big difference.”
Despite the positive environment, tennis remains a mentally demanding sport where players stay focused through close matches, Lau said.
“Sometimes we relax and joke around before matches to keep things light,” Lau said. “But once the game starts, we have to stay focused because tennis is a mentally tough game.”
Playing against strong opponents has taught the team to stay resilient, even in difficult situations, Nakum said.
“Some of the opponents we play, especially in singles, are very, very good,” Nakum said. “But I try as hard as I can because I know they’re not that much better. It’s just about staying focused.”
As the season progresses, the players encourage more students to join and grow within the tennis team, Lau said.
“Just join the team,” Nakum said. “Even if you’re new, you can get on JV and improve with practice.”
Consistency and practice are important and starting early can give players an advantage, Lau said.
“Be consistent, and don’t stop playing,” Lau said. “That’s the best way to improve and have a good experience on the team.”