The Jesuit Tennis Team recently held their annual tryouts in which the coaches, Paul McDaniel and Anthony Civello, critiqued the abilities of the novice freshman and evaluated their skills so as to determine whether or not they are natural tennis players. With more talent coming in every year, it has become a tougher decision of who makes the team.
Following the stellar season the Rangers tennis team had last year, several players have graduated, leaving many freshmen and sophomores to step up and fill the void. However, Jesuit will have returning standouts Thomas Carrier ’15, Jackson White ’15, Pierre Craig ’16, and Federico Pier ’16. Just this past year, the Jesuit Rangers took home the district 9-5A title and had a successful state run with the help of those returning players.
Coach Paul McDaniel stated that the team has “received a deeper freshman class than anticipated,” consisting largely of inept tennis virtuosos from schools all over Dallas. “As for the upperclassmen,” McDaniel added, “we can expect big things from both the junior and senior classes, and considering that 5 seniors have moved on to college, the top six to eight players will originate from those two grades.”
Of the eight freshman who tried out for the team, Christopher Rynders ’18 elicited great technique and clinical expertise, recognized by both the coaches and his team mates. “As a freshman, I can view making the team as an opportunity to make myself better both as a player and as a teammate,” comments Chris after the tryouts, “I get the privilege to play with my classmates on a day to day basis, helping me strengthen physically and allowing me to share experiences I wouldn’t experience if I did not play tennis.” Both he and Coach McDaniel have a feeling that “this season of tennis will be one of the best Jesuit will ever have.”
The Jesuit Rangers Tennis team will take on Irving High School in a series of matches September 16th.
