Spring is in the air, which means the smell of fresh air and all the sounds of new spring coming to life. For the Lewis Cass girls tennis team it means the smell of fresh tennis balls and the sounds echoing across the courts. With the new season quickly approaching, the Lewis Cass girls’ tennis team is gearing up for the season ahead. The girls have been attending open courts in anticipation of the first practice on Monday, March 17.
Coach Matt Hurst is anticipating seeing everyone back on the courts this season. “The girls always come out with good attitudes and excitement that carries through the season.” The returning seniors are just as excited for the upcoming tennis season, Eliana Cicalo is looking forward to “seeing how the new varsity team will look. We lost a few seniors last year after graduation, and I think it will be great to see how the new team will look this year with a bunch of new faces at the varsity level. There are so many players who have worked really hard to get a spot on varsity and I think it will be awesome to see that hard work pay off for them!”
Each season is very different with seniors leaving and new members adding to the team, but Coach Hurst has no fear for this season, “We never look back and compare. Everything is different every season and the important thing is to focus and work to be successful now.” Returning player of six years, senior Guadelupe “Lupe” Gonzalez, set her goals for this season. “My goal is to improve this season. As it is my senior year, I want to improve my tennis skills and just have fun in general.” After high school, Lupe plans on attending Indiana University Kokomo. She will be majoring in the healthcare field, most likely occupational therapy. On the contrary, Eliana Cicalo will be attending Indiana University Bloomington where she will be studying political science on the pre-law track. While at Bloomington, she will continue her tennis career playing for the IU Bloomington club tennis team.
Many memories have been made with this particular class of seniors. Coach Hurst, who has been coaching for around 20 years, was asked what his favorite memory with this group of seniors has been. “There are always so many and what I always look forward to is making new memories every year.” Lupe shares her favorite memory from her years of playing tennis. “I would say my favorite memory out of all my years playing tennis would be the friendships I made along the way. Having those fun memories with friends will always stick with me.” There are many other enjoyable parts of the season, not including practices and matches. Eliana’s favorite memory from her time playing has been “Staying after tennis practice on nice days and playing random tennis games with friends. Moments like that, where you can just talk and laugh with your teammates and coach are what make the sport enjoyable and it’s why I’ve continued to play for all these years.”
With this season quickly approaching, the girls are ready to face the challenge that awaits them. With Coach Hurst’s commitment to encouraging a positive atmosphere, this season is sure to be one of dedication and growth. Whether it is the bonds formed on the court, the thrill of the game, or the lessons learned along the way, the team is ready to make the most of their 2025 season and continue their tradition of success.
