Tennis might seem like a solo sport at first glance, but anyone who’s played it knows how much teamwork shapes the experience. Whether it’s syncing with a doubles partner or relying on teammates for support, Weddington High School is no exception, collaboration is woven into every match.
Sarthak Das, a player on the school tennis team, told me about his experience — this is what I gleaned from the experiences he shared.
Last year, the tennis squad kicked off with one clear goal – building up newer players to keep things solid down the line. Led by coach Matthew Jones, the group mixed different skill sets and attitudes in a way that just clicked. Seniors Austin Corbett, Baha Kariev, and Vishruth Katari held things together, setting a calm tone week after week. Meanwhile, Juniors Cameron Gerry, Campbell Jones, Rohan Joseph, and Parker Reynolds filled out the core lineup without missing beats. Coming in behind them, Sophomores Syed Armoghan, Greyson Atkins, Ellis Kayes, Sohum Patel, and Rohan Varma pushed pace and intensity whenever they played. Freshmen Sarthak Das, Abhimanyu Gokhale Sharma, Dylan Morrone, Agastya Oruganti, plus Cole Sandbo tossed in a fresh drive, helping the whole thing evolve from start to finish.
A key moment of the season happened during an intense win against South Point – one game the squad won’t forget soon. The clash was exhausting right from the first game, so fierce that junior Cameron Gerry struggled to move once it ended. Winning wasn’t only about boosting stats; it revealed how tough they are when pushing together through hardship.
During the season, Austin Corbett made his mark as a player to watch. Match after match, he faced top-ranked opponents and brought a tough, relentless style of play that fired up everyone around him. His intensity and competitiveness didn’t just show in his shots, he lifted his whole team’s energy.
The team trained every weekday, pushing hard to improve moves while growing tighter as a unit – key for tough games down the line. Still, the year brought its share of hurdles. Players kept running into opponents with poor court etiquette and referees making questionable line calls, situations that strained calm just as much as talent. Yet they stayed level-headed throughout, choosing focus instead of blowing up.
Freshman Sarthak Das said it plainly: “Off the court, something really tied us – time shared, laughs traded, moments stacked. One leaned on the other when things got rough, yet joy showed up just as loud”. Bonds formed slowly, but held firm through pressure-packed games.
“We clicked because we actually cared.” Tough stretches came – but so did unity, thanks to trust already rooted deep. That feeling? It wasn’t forced. It felt like home, not hype.
The team stuck to what mattered – respect, working together, pushing through tough times, being kind, playing fair – all season long. Though there were no organized volunteer activities, the athletes still got involved around campus and stayed connected with students. When fans did come out to support, even if just a few, those cheers hit hard and lifted their spirits.
Last year’s squad wrapped up the season tougher in play, tighter as teammates – fuelled by drive and loyalty – not just winning more games but growing together, setting a quiet base for whatever follows
