Former Athletic Director Tommy Marshall is currently leading boys tennis with a 4-2 record, and Coach Jose Gregory is leading the girls team with an undefeated record, as of March 1.

Tennis might be overlooked at times, but the team has a large community of passionate players. Player Ryland Hoover shared why he loves the sport so much. “Tennis is a great sport that you can play for your whole life,” Hoover said.

Many may not know what goes on during a typical practice since the tennis courts sit high above much of the campus. Player Erik Johansson gives us some detail on what goes on up on the courts. “In a typical Marist practice, we start off by jogging and stretching. Then, we grab a partner and warm up. At the end of practice, we play points or sometimes matches,” Johansson said.

Tennis is also one of the most mentally challenging sports that our school offers. Johansson testified to just how difficult but rewarding tennis can be. “The hardest part of tennis is staying focused. In tennis, it is very easy to lose a lead. The best part of tennis is hitting a winner. They boost your confidence, especially when the whole team is cheering.”

The game of tennis is very unique in terms of its point system, and one term used above is the term “winner.” The term “winner” or “ace” is simply when a player hits the ball over the net, and the other player can’t return it, or the ball bounces twice.

Another interesting term is the term “bagel.” This term is used when a player wins 6-0 against their opponent.

Our school is known for excelling in our academics but also in sports. Tennis is a sport that has done exceptionally well at our school.

The girls have won an outstanding 26 state championships with their wins occurring from 1981 to 2022.

From 1979 to 2022, our school’s boys tennis has won state on 19 different occasions.