MaxPreps Student Section: Tennis Time is Tickin'

It’s all or nothing this year.

Hours of long practices, intense workouts, and positive attitudes seem to be what makes Granite Hills High School girls varsity tennis team tick.

This year’s groups of seniors leaders, Sarah Herrera, Bailey Ward, and Caitlin Jetter have all been working hard to not only represent Granite Hills in the East Yosemite League (EYL), but to also carry onto valley playoffs.

“It was a really big accomplishment that I was the only one to represent Granite at valley last year,” said Herrera. “I want to do the same this year and more.”

Herrera also represented Granite Hills at EYL her sophomore and junior year. After winning both of her matches at EYL Herrera carried onto the first round of valley single playoffs.

This year Herrera and Jetter switch off between being the number one player and the number two player for the first two rounds out three during tennis games. Then the two upperclassmen are a perfect match when they team up in the third round to become the number one doubles team for Granite. Number one doubles team for the first and second round are Ward and junior Mai Lor.

And to help lead the girls to victory is 10 year returning Coach Randy Smee.

“I hope that we can have a singles player and a doubles teams go to valley,” he said.

The tennis team kicks off with their first game on Tuesday, August 24, at Woodlake High School.

And this year Coach Smee has bigger and better plans. This year’s team consists of 9 experienced varsity players. Smee would like for a majority of his varsity girls to attend EYL this year as well.

However for the three team leaders; Herrera, Jetter, Ward; tennis isn’t all they focus on.

Ward, Jetter, and Herrera have at least two Advanced Placement classes this year; including calculus, English, civics and economics, and psychology. Jetter is involved in many community service activities, clubs, Academic Decathlon, and she shooting to be the valedictorian this year. Jetter is currently ranked number one at Granite Hills with her grade point average accumulated over her high school career. And Ward is actively involved in Rotary Club and Granite’s Student Body Press. Herrera also keeps busy with playing multiple sports – tennis, basketball, and swimming during the school year.

It’s safe to say that these college-bound girls have a plate full, but the three still make time to work on their backhands and quickness for tennis.

 “Honestly the better part about playing tennis is the feeling after you get with winning,” chuckled Ward. “It’s a sense of accomplishment when the whole team wins too.”

However, Ward doesn’t have plan on playing college tennis at California State University, San Diego or California State University, Fresno. The 17 year old college-bound student plans on putting studying first.

“I would hope that some of my girls would want to play tennis at a junior college some day,” said Coach Smee. “But, I always tell my girls I am a teacher before a coach.”