Season Recap: Middle School Tennis

The Middle School Tennis team wrapped up a successful season full of growth, teamwork, and a deepening love for the game.

“Obviously, winning matches both individually and as a team should always be a goal,” Head Coach Daniel Jamell said. “However, despite not winning every match, we still met a lot of personal goals that I was proud of achieving. For the more beginner players, becoming proficient in the rules and being able to play matches without much guidance was a main goal, and I felt like that was achieved. For everyone else, the goal was to get more match play and deepen their understanding of the game—which definitely happened. Overall, I wanted to make sure everyone ended the season with more love and appreciation for tennis, and I think we made that happen.”

Facing tough competition from larger, more experienced teams, the Gryphons showed resilience and unity. “The kids never backed down,” Jamell said. “Tennis may be an individual sport made into a team sport, but our group was close-knit—players coached and encouraged each other constantly.”

Every athlete earned at least one match win, but Jamell’s favorite memory came from practice: “At our last session, I told the kids we could skip conditioning, and almost everyone protested that they wanted to run! That’s when you know you’ve got a great group.”

Players shared similar reflections. Grade 7 student Lucas Perrin said, “I wanted to build my endurance and gain match experience. I loved how we supported each other.” Grade 6 student William Goth added, “My goals were to improve my serve and backhand. My favorite memory from this season was when my partner and I defeated a team that we rematched and had lost to the first time.”

“Overall,” Jamell reflected, “I’m just proud of the whole team. They’re thoughtful, hardworking, and true leaders. The season was a success in every way that matters.”