Every Tuesday and Thursday night, about a dozen students take a break from their studies and work out their stress on the Delp tennis courts.
With a broad range of skill levels coming out to play this fall, the focus has been on growing the culture and welcoming in new members.
Freshman Ciara Collins said that club tennis is an immediate way to meet new people, build friendships, and get to know upperclassmen.
“All my life, I’ve played and thought of tennis as a very individual sport,” she said. “I don’t feel that way here at Hillsdale.”
For many of the members of the club tennis team, this time on the court gives them something to look forward to at the end of all the classes and assignments.
“I get excited when it’s a tennis day,” freshman Lucia Bosco said. “Being able to play more casually instead of solely competitively has been a great way to burn off stress.”
Collins clarified that there is still plenty of competition, however. For example, the women from the club won every single match they played against the Cornerstone University junior varsity team a few weeks ago.
In that same tournament, the men’s club team faced a recently disbanded varsity team from Taylor University. Despite the challenge, the players pushed themselves, winning a few matches. Sophomore Max Aylor said that the club aims to have two more competitions in the spring, possibly even competing in the United States Tennis Association Midwest Championship.
“In past years we have consistently played in the USTA tournaments, and have even had players recruited for the varsity team,” Aylor said.
The club is led by an entirely new board this year, with sophomore Sarah McKeown as president, sophomore Brennan Slade as vice-president, and Professor of Philosophy and Religion Nathan Schlueter stepping in as the new faculty advisor.
“I hope to run some intersquad tournaments in the coming weeks in order to help club members gain confidence while playing each other,” McKeown said.
At the forefront of team dynamics is graduate student Sam Musser, known for his enthusiastic cheers and encouragement during drills. As one of a handful of students in the new Graduate School of Classical Education here on campus, Musser has been able to continue fostering a club culture that keeps members coming back every practice.
As the fall weather fades, the club will move practices inside the Biermann Center. McKeown stressed that all skill levels are welcome.
“Whether you are picking up a racket for the first time, or have played varsity all throughout highschool, there will be a spot for you, and someone at your level to play against,” McKeown said.
