For many students at PCDS, sports and athletics are integral to everyday life. The PCDS women’s tennis team is a strong force at the divisional and state levels, but many don’t get to see a match without a long drive to Yuma.
Sophie Chhabra is a freshman on the PCDS tennis team, who has been playing tennis since five years old. For the majority of the tennis season so far, Chhabra has been on the practice squad, but was recently moved up to one of the alternate spots and hopes to play her first official match soon. She described a very supportive and positive team environment, noting that “the dynamic is great.” Chhabra and another member of the PCDS Tennis team, Grace Cooper, both attested to the fact that the team has become a lot stronger competitively in competition, and getting a spot on the team is also more difficult. Chhabra said that last year, there were only nine girls on the team, but this year, there has been an influx of new freshmen and sophomore players. Chhabra has had a lot of fun playing with sophomore Charlie Yudell, another new player on the team.
Grace Cooper has been playing tennis since she was four years old and is currently an alternate on the tennis team. Cooper always participated in tourney days, or tennis tournaments hosted for middle school students, and stated that she knew she wanted to be on the team in high school. Cooper has been to three matches as an alternate so far this season, and describes the matches as “very fun” and “a good experience.” Cooper described how, although tennis is a very individual sport, the PCDS team “[makes] a good community.” Both Chhabra and Cooper said that the team is close-knit and the hours they spend travelling, practicing, and eating together form a strong bond.
Mary Bartolino, a sophomore and a member of the travel team, echoed many of these sentiments while also highlighting the dedication and resilience required to compete at a high level. Having played tennis both in and outside of school, she noted the difference between the independent nature of individual competition and the strong sense of community on the PCDS team. She shared that “outside of school…it’s a lot more competitive” and that “no one shows up to cheer each other on,” a strong contrast with her experience on the tennis team, where she said “everyone always cheers each other on.” She pointed out that the team’s depth has contributed substantially to its success this season, highlighting that there seems to be an “infinite amount of alternates that really seem to know what they’re doing.” Despite Bartolino experiencing heat exhaustion during a match, she described the team as motivated and passionate, adding that she does the sport “because it’s fun…I love to hear the sound of the ball coming off my racquet.”
Overall, the women’s tennis team is not only competitive but also built on a strong sense of community and growth. The team offers a challenging and supportive environment where athletes can develop their skills while also forming close friendships. As the team looks ahead to Doubles State Championships on May 8, the sense of community ingrained in the team will drive them to further success.
