The Oakmont Regional High School girls’ tennis team was once lively and filled with camaraderie. The girls’ encouragement and sisterhood ended only ten years ago, in 2016, when the team was forced to discontinue.

Tennis is a very demanding sport that requires an immeasurable amount of training and excellence. It is mentally and physically challenging on the human body, forcing many to quit. All the while, former tennis enthusiast and American author, David Foster Wallace states, “tennis is like chess but with running.” It requires quick decision-making and fast thinking. It challenges you emotionally; it is just you and your opponent on the court. This is a major stressor for many, yet most players prefer being by themselves.​

In high school tennis, approximately 55% are girls who play tennis, and less than 1% move to NCAA D1 programs. Only a tiny fraction can withstand a professional career. So it makes you think, is tennis really worth it for a high school sport? This is a highly controversial topic, as some may hold diverse opinions.

Mrs. Leanne Roy, Oakmont gym & wellness teacher, was really trying to emphasize her opinion and show that tennis can be a whole body workout, but also how it can benefit your soul positively. She explains that “we’re a competitive team,” in the sense that Oakmont tennis definitely worked hard throughout. Tennis is seen as a tough sport as is, but hearing Mrs. Roy’s opinion on it really changes your perspective on tennis. She mentions that “Tennis is a sport that not many students go for.” It is not very selective within the student body, much like skiing. Tennis requires lots of physical factors, but along with those physical factors, there is also a mental challenge alongside it. As stated, it is a tiring sport that requires a lot of cardio; you are losing 300-800 calories per hour.

Mrs. Roy is a very positive person when it comes to sports; she is very supportive as long as the students are content. She thinks that it is great to get out there and have something to do; she states that the whole idea of Oakmont having it, or that they usually have a hard time keeping their emotions in check on the court, as they can get a violation or a point taken off for foul language and destruction of a racket.

Coach Brian Sargent was a former Oakmont Regional High School Tennis coach (and dean) for the boys and girls teams. He cared a lot that he even coached for both of the teams when the budget cuts were low. Tennis was a way that he could connect with the students outside of the classroom; it was good to go out and do what he’s passionate about. He believed that the tennis program gave students the chance to work together towards a certain goal. Sargent states, “It helps to teach a student to put others ahead of themselves and to also follow directions!” He then goes on, “And it helps to keep you in shape or get in better shape through that practice!”

Sargent explains that it helps a student think of others before themselves, worrying about their teammates before themselves. He truly had a passion to play tennis and had the ability to teach it to others.

Sargent’s opinion on tennis is simply that it’s one of those sports that you can play after high school without needing to get into an NCAA program. An alternative to tennis could be pickleball as well. He was the dean for multiple sports, yet his ultimate favorite was tennis. The embodiment of it is just so physically good for your body and has so many positive benefits. Sadly, in 2016, Oakmont tennis had to discontinue because they couldn’t use any courts other than Monty Tech. They had to tear down to build the veterinary unit. Some girls tried out for Gardner High School tennis, but since it was so competitive, only a couple of girls made it onto the team.

Apart from the negative aspect that tennis has, it has a very healthy consequence for your body. It apparently adds 10 years to your life and reduces health risks like heart disease. It is a good way to lose weight and improve agility. Tennis utilizes the muscles in your legs, making you look toned while being very strong. Although many pro tennis players have said that they obtain scars or sprains, it takes a while to recover because of the stress.

One inspiring athletic woman who openly told her struggles to the world and how she felt about tennis as a mental struggle is Serena Williams. Williams was dedicated to her career. She has been so successful over the years with her skills; she showed the world that a young African-American woman can achieve big things and win 23 Grand Slam titles in singles. She has done a lot for women’s tennis in a way that inspires young girls to play and pursue their own passions. She is a strong and independent woman who had to quit because her children came first, rather than her tennis career.

Oakmont Girls’ tennis really shows how it can be a life-changing experience for these young women. By combining their skills, they went to district two years in a row; they were truly competitive through sisterhood. Tennis is absolutely worth it for a high school sport; it helps you build your strength and confidence. All the while making new friends and having fun on the court. It may be mentally tough, but these girls demonstrated a positive environment that was filled with support and love. Tennis is an excellent high school sport that can challenge you physically and mentally while also giving you an outlet to release stress and anxiety. It is 100% worth it for high school girls’ tennis.