Pirates
As the 2024 spring sports season rolls up, Marshfield’s tennis teams are ready to compete. The Pirates have started practicing early to try to get a jump on their opponents. They have started preseason practice Mondays and Wednesdays every week before the season officially starts. They practice at the Boys and Girls Club, where they have access to five indoor courts and can be sheltered from the wind and rain.
”Pre-season has been a great way to get new players acclimated to the sport which will help us later in the season,” senior captain Morgan Picatti exclaimed.
The Pirates head coach this season is Mckenna Haeckler. This is her third season coaching tennis for MHS. This season, she plans on taking the team to the next level.
“I like that she makes us practice actual matches against other people on our team that are the same skill level,” senior Mark Bowles said.
In high school tennis, there are two different ways to play: one is to play on singles, the other is to play doubles, with a teammate of your choice. There is always a split in opinions on which one is better.
“I personally like doubles because it makes me less mad at myself,” Bowles noted. “I like that it’s more of a team sport when I’m playing doubles.”
Tennis for 4A schools in Oregon are combined with 3A, 2A, and 1A. This is different from 5A and 6A because they, like most other sports, are confined to their own division. Since we’re combined this means that more challenges arise. For example, Saint Mary’s, a private 3A school, has been a handful for the league. In last year’s districts all but one double’s team from Saint Mary’s made it to state.
The Pirates first practice begins on February 26th of this year. The Pirates will practice at the indoor courts at the Boys and Girls Club everyday, after school from 3:45 until 5:15. Every week on Friday, the team will have a challenge day. This is an opportunity to improve your rankings within your team.
This year’s Marshfield tennis team is confident in their ability to make it to state. Half of this year’s tennis team are seniors that have now been playing for a few years, and with the extra long pre-season, hopes are higher than ever.
“I believe we have a good chance of making state,” Haeckler stated. “I believe that any year anyone has a chance to make it. It depends on your focus and effort into your game.”
