Tigerlily Strong
Brooke Osborn playing against St. Bernard's.
With a whopping total of 19 players, the Arcata High varsity girls’ tennis team is off to a strong start this season. They have already won against Fortuna, Del Norte, and St. Bernard’s! The large roster has brought new energy to the team, mixing experienced upperclassmen and eager underclassmen working together.
If Arcata wins in the HDN tournament this year, it will be the 9th year in a row. The main competition is NPA, a team that has consistently pushed Arcata to bring its best game.
“I think the season will go pretty well in the future, and everyone on the team has a good relationship with each other, and we’re basically all friends,” freshman Lyra Bagnall, one of the top 6 players, said.
Another one of the top 6 players, senior Meta Nave, said, “I love playing tennis, but sometimes it’s very mentally draining.” Despite those challenges, she values the lessons the sport has taught her. “But I think tennis has helped me a lot with handling pressure and knowing how to calm myself down.”
That balance between challenge and motivation is something other players on the team also recognize.
Sophomore Brooke Osborn, another one of the top 6 players, said that “watching professionals play gets me hyped for games.”
Moments like these reflect the team’s optimism and unity as they head into competition. Even in a long season filled with practices and matches, the players all agree that supporting one another has been just as important as every win they stack up.
“I’m so proud of us, and I think we’re gonna do really well. I am really looking forward to playing against NPA,” Nave said.