As she entered her senior season, Varsity Tennis Co-Captain Hannah T. (‘27) took on a new role both on and off the court. With eight freshmen joining the team this year the dynamic changed drastically. Hannah assumed responsibility to help lead a new group of athletes as they not only began their time playing varsity sports, but also as they began high school.

Being captain means setting an example and making each and every player feel welcomed and supported. After years of admiring other senior leaders, Hannah now has the opportunity to exemplify what she has learned and how she has implemented it while she’s building her own team’s unique chemistry.

Hannah shared, “I was very close with the previous captains on the tennis team, and they taught me a lot. Especially the 4 captains from last year. They taught me that being a leader doesn’t necessarily mean being the best on the court; it means being supportive and helping others improve as best I can. I have applied this advice during matches and practices by cheering on my teammates, recognizing when they improve, and helping them out technically.” 

With so many new freshmen, Hannah’s leadership has become especially important. Whether she is encouraging a teammate during a match, helping a younger player adjust to the team, or simply creating a positive environment at practice, she is embracing the responsibility that comes with being a senior captain.

Hannah explained, “When I first joined tennis in 9th grade, I was the only freshman on the team, so I can understand how intimidating it feels to join a community where everyone already knows each other. I try to cultivate an inviting community on the team. As a senior and captain, I try to be as authentic and approachable as I can be to new players, whether that means answering their questions, helping them with scoring, or just talking with them about high school in general.”

Hannah’s impact isn’t simply a measurement of her performance on the court, but by the example she sets for the next generation of players. As she plays her last season she is creating an impact bigger than herself, and helping shape the team that comes after her. We look forward to seeing how the rest of the season plays out for Hannah, and wish her luck for the rest of her time on the Varsity Tennis team! Go Jags!