ENJOY THE RIDE!

Four years of college tennis go by in the blink of an eye. I have had so many conversations with former players who tell me how much they miss competing and playing for the team. They miss the road trips with their teammates and playing in big matches.

The Indoor National Championship is one of the biggest events of our season. It's the first big test of the season and more importantly, it is the closet simulation of the NCAA tournament. Before every big match, we gather as a team and talk about the upcoming matches. Former Assistant Coach and future Hall of Famer, Mark Odgers, used to always tell the team to enjoy these special events because before you know it, your career will be over, and you will soon be sitting at a computer working 80 hours a week.

These events are pressure-packed emotional roller coasters, and the team that usually wins is the team that "loves the battle".  A college player, if they are lucky, will get to experience this event 4 times in their career. My message to our guys is to enjoy the ride and "don't battle the love", as former Coach Chris Redmond use to say all the time.

One of the themes this year that I have heard our players repeat is to have fun, and I truly feel like this will be a key to our success this season. Competition is fun, especially at events like the Indoor National Championship. Great competitors love a competitive grind and are able to handle the highs and lows of a championship with resiliency and grace.

There are over 300 in schools in Division III, and only 8 teams have been invited to this special event.  Relish every moment because before you know it, your 4 years will be up.

Enjoy the Ride!