Beyond the court: Bethel tennis reflects on Spring Break in San Antonio
Beyond the court: Bethel tennis reflects on Spring Break in San Antonio
During Spring Break, the Bethel tennis team traveled to San Antonio where they played tough opponents and explored the city.
For many college students, spring break offers a chance to relax and step away from academic and athletic obligations. However, this year, the Bethel Tennis team opted for a different kind of break, embarking on a nine-hour journey to San Antonio, Texas.
Departing on the morning of March 12, the team made its way to the Frost Bank Center first. There, they not only spectated a San Antonio Spurs game but also had the privilege of meeting players from the opposing team, the Houston Rockets. Many Threshers described the experience as a highlight.
Freshman, Moses Sawaztky, from Goshen, Ind., enjoyed getting the chance to watch an NBA game. Sawatzky shared that he greatly appreciated the opportunity to meet players from the Houston Rockets. “It was a great moment being able to see Boban Marjanović,” Sawatzky shared. “It was great being able to see people on the team invested in the game and having fun.”
Following the game, the team explored the vibrant San Antonio River Walk, renowned for its array of restaurants and shops lining the riverbanks.
Sophomore Patty Huerta from McPherson described this excursion as one of her favorite parts of the trip, emphasizing the beauty of the surroundings. Similarly, junior Daniela Herrera from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, cherished the time spent at the River Walk, and enjoyed getting to spend time with his teammates in this beautiful environment.
As for the main purpose of the trip, the team faced off against a wide variety of opponents that they would not typically encounter in their pre-conference schedule. On the first day of competition, both the men's and women's teams took on Our Lady of the Lake University, a program with both teams currently ranked in the Coaches' Top 25 in the NAIA.
The following day, the women competed against St. Mary University, an NCAA Division II school in San Antonio, while the men faced Lewis-Clark State College, a team receiving votes for the NAIA Top 25. Despite not securing overall victories, individual successes were celebrated.
Huerta's win in the #6 singles against OLLU was a notable highlight. Reflecting on her performance, Huerta acknowledged the tough competition while appreciating the support from her teammates during crucial moments. Although she acknowledged slight disappointment for no wins, Huerta is thankful for the experience.
Menard also offered insights into the matches on the men's side, “It was good for us to be able to play high-level teams from all different parts of the country”, said Menard. “I think that our matches in San Antonio showed that we can be very good this year, but we have to be focused and intentional in our matches.”
In talking with head coach Gabe Johnson, he shared what he hoped to get out of the trip. “I wanted us to be exposed to a high level of tennis, get to play some nationally ranked opponents.” Johnson continued, “Part of it was for me to see how we’re matching up and what we’re doing well, because that’s the level that we want to be competing at consistently.”
Furthermore, Johnson also helped put into perspective the outcomes of the matches and what he hopes the experience can bring out in his players. “We got some good individual wins on both the men’s and women’s side, and also got some moments in the match where we see the team believing they can compete, even with some tough results I think we all saw moments in matches where we felt like we were in the match and to see the team feel that was important.”
“[And] also got some moments in the match where we see the team believing they can compete, even with some tough results I think we all saw moments in matches where we felt like we were in the match and to see the team feel that was important.”
Gabe Johnson
Ultimately, the San Antonio trip provided the Bethel Tennis team with valuable court experience and opportunities for team bonding. Beyond honing their skills, the players returned with a deeper sense of camaraderie, ready to tackle the remainder of the season.