The Southside High School Boys and Girls Tennis teams competed in the 6A West Conference Tournament last Monday and Tuesday. This annual event provided players with an opportunity to showcase their hard work, dedication, talent, and passion. The qualified state tennis players are Ian Harper, Lily Shumate, Caroline Beneux in singles, and Jailyn Wooden and Emily Barr in doubles. This group of boys and girls will advance in the State Championship in Fayetteville this week.
“Being successful in this tournament makes me feel good about myself and my sport. I think that if you are going to participate in a sport, you need to have dedication and a desire to play the sport. A good attitude is also very important. I see it as if your attitude is poor, your performance is going to be poor. To do good, you need to have a good attitude, try your hardest, and also, obviously, have great teamwork.” Jailyn Wooden says.
Wooden says that the tennis teams also created inspirational posters to motivate the players and boost their confidence. Wooden says that she had lots of fun participating in making the posters because it also gave everyone a good attitude, and everyone had a good time.
The 6A West Conference is known for tough competition, and this year was no different. Southside’s boys’ team, which is made up of both experienced players and new talent, went into the tournament with focus and determination. Throughout their matches, they showed great effort, skills, and especially teamwork. In singles play, several players stood out with strong serves and smart choices, while the doubles teams impressed with great communication and coordination.
The girls’ team matched the same level of energy and dedication. They played with consistency, confidence, and great teamwork and team spirit. Many of the girls earned big wins in both singles and doubles rounds, using a mix of powerful baseline shots and quick net play to keep their opponents on their toes! The tournament atmosphere was full of excitement, with parents, teammates, and friends cheering from the sidelines.
Even though every match in the tournament was hard-fought and maybe even stressful at times, both teams walked away with a valuable experience and a lesson learned. The tournament helped the players see and experience how much they’ve grown, what they can still improve on, and how to stay confident, even when under pressure. Beyond the match scores, it was a great reminder of what teamwork, sportsmanship, dedication, and school pride are all about.
“To get to the place I am in this sport, I would say that it definitely took a lot of commitment, practice, and having a positive attitude. I have played tennis for countless years now, and I really do care for this sport, and it has taken me so far in life. I will say that I think it is very important to have good sportsmanship and work together as a team. It won’t get you anywhere in life or in your sport if you don’t like or get along with your teammates. And you’re going to have to practice and work for what you want in a sport; it doesn’t just happen overnight.” Lily Shumate quotes.
As all of these Southside tennis teams look ahead to what their futures may bring, they can be proud of their progress and achievements, and also be excited for what else is to come. Their strong showing at the 6A West Tournament proves that the future is definitely bright for Southside tennis.