Men’s Tennis
Have you ever started something new and then, after a bit, just stopped doing it because it was too difficult or way too much effort? Well, the Davie County men’s tennis team does things a lot differently. This team has the dedication and willpower to put in the effort to become better tennis players.
Junior Barrett Taylor says that before he started playing, he wished he knew “you need to be playing 24/7, even in the summer,” citing how much work goes into the sport and demonstrating the team’s dedication to hard work. The day before this interview (March 25), the team won 6-3 against East Forsyth High School, which showed how much this team’s concentrated efforts had paid off. Also, Taylor approaches each match with a determined passion. “I always try my best and will always take matches seriously” because, for Taylor and his teammates, the true victory lies in the effort and determination they bring to the game.
This year, the team has no seniors, so for the underclassmen, it can be challenging to play against older players. However, freshman tennis player Brady Carter says playing against older students is difficult “but just getting through every game and winning” is how he gets through that struggle.
Carter believes in practicing almost every day, explaining “Whenever I was in middle school I didn’t take it as seriously as I do now”. By applying this belief, he and his teammates have learned that practicing your skills can teach valuable lessons, such as how to deal with failure, the importance of hard work, and the satisfaction of achieving goals.
Sophomore Isaac Martinez says his favorite memory of being on the tennis team is when “after a match, we would go and eat Chick-fil-A.” The tennis team does not only value the memorable time they spend together but also appreciates their constant effort and commitment to playing their best.
Men’s Golf
High school sports can be challenging, and being able to balance academics and athletics can be daunting for any student. Davie’s Men’s Golf team showed their mental strength by focusing on their sport in preparation for this season.
Senior Beck Owens stated his most challenging moment in golf so far was that first match. He continues saying “It was off to a tough start, just trying to get back in that mentally was pretty tough.” The members of the golf team believe it is very important to be aware of your mentality while competing.
The men’s golf team has put much effort into making this season a memorable one. Senior Tripp Bradshaw has remained one of the standout players throughout his four seasons on the golf team. When asked about his plans after high school, he stated that he would like to attend NC State and join the club golf team.
Junior Landon Packard showed how well his game can adapt to facing challenges. Packard shot a 35 in the first conference match of the season. This outstanding performance was one of Packard’s best memories from his time on the golf team.
Through the high level of competition high school sports provide, there is always room for improvement. Junior Anderson Beliveau cited improving his putting game throughout the season.
Most of the seniors on the golf team plan to continue playing by joining their college or university’s club golf team. Through this season all seniors have kept a positive mentality and focused on uplifting their teammates to create an environment where each player can be successful.
