This is the motto that many coaches believe in – and keep
in mind Granite Hills High School girls tennis coach Randy Smee believes in
this, but it’s a bit more like “relaxed practice makes perfect” when it comes
to this year’s group tennis players.
Senior Sarah Herrera.
Photo by Marissa Martinez
“This group is older, they have a couple of years of
playing and experience down already,” Smee said. “I believe that going moderate
[during practices] is the key for them. They play better when we have a relaxed
practice.”
And relaxed hour long practices seem to be doing the
trick this year.
“They tend to lose energy from having too hard of a
practice when it comes to games,” Smee said.
Last year junior Sarah Herrera was left to fly solo as
she went tried to play for a Valley title in central valley California, but
fell short.
But, this year Granite Hills will send four (out of a
maximum of six) players to Valley: Sarah Herrera, Caitlin Jetter, Bailey Ward
and Mai Lor. Herrera will play the No. 1 seat and Jetter will play the No. 2
seat in singles. Ward and Lor will team up to be No. 1 doubles team.
“Winning is a pretty big goal of mine,” said Lor. “And
Porterville High is going to be some tough competition I think.”
Nevertheless, competing girls will been given a run for
their racket when it comes to singles.
Herrera has been seated No. 2 in singles for a majority
part of the season, but she finally emerged and began showing her true skills.
“Sarah played better when she played others from
different schools,”Smee said. “She rose to the top; she ended up doing
better on paper than Caitlin in the end. From a coaching perspective that’s why
I switched her and Caitlin around for Valley and the girls both agreed on it in
the end which was really important too.”
The four girls that will be heading to Valley this year
have one factor in their tennis careers that many would argue is a major
problem; they have not had a single private lesson in their lives.
In Fresno each lesson can cost $70-$80 and in Visalia
each lesson can cost $35-50, depending on the exact location of the club. And
depending on how many times a player goes per week or month will have a great
impact on the total price.
“Private lessons can be really helpful, especially if you
get a good coach,” Lor said. “They can help you improve on formations and
ground strokes, which can help you win matches overall.”
The price and transportation are definitely issues for
all four girls.
For example, Herrera is a twin and the youngest out of
seven children, Jetter has an older brother at a four year university and Ward
also has a sister at a four year university.
Clearly, private lessons in Fresno are out of the
question.
But, one thing the girls do not lack determination and
work ethic on and off the court.
Senior Bailey Ward.
Photo by Marissa Martinez
Ward, Herrera and Jetter all have three Advanced
Placement classes such as calculus, English and civics and econ. They are also
involved in clubs such as California Scholastic Federation, Zonta Club, and
Wilderness Club. Junior Lor, on the other hand, is working her way to becoming
a pastry chef.
It’s safe to say these girls are taking on a plateful –
to add to the daily chaos the girls are all working on their applications to
California State, private and public universities.
“I have found players that usually challenge themselves
outside of tennis to be the girls that are the most superior,” Smee said.
“These girls do exceptionally well in school, I could not be more proud of all
of them.”
Jetter and Herrera will both be traveling to Redwood High
School in Visalia where they will have their first matches at 9 a.m. sharp.
Herrera will play Niki Zieback from Exeter High School
and Jetter will play Mara Curry from Fresno High School.
“I’m excited for Valley for this year since it’s going to
be my last time out there,” Ward said. “I know we all have to play hard and I
plan on doing just that along with having a good attitude all the way.”
