The seniors all pose for a picture on Senior Night!
The seniors on the Vestavia Hills Tennis Team know a thing or three about winning. While they’ve been on the team, the girls team has earned two blue maps and one red map, while the boys have enjoyed three blues in a row. Both teams have been a part of the state champ conversation each year, and this year is no exception. In fact, the team is ranked 10th in the nation based on the average Universal Tennis Rating (UTR) score. But it’s not all hardware and hot air. This team has a special bond, and Senior Night only highlighted it.
The day of their Senior Night, and their home match, introduced an unexpected twist: the weather. Wind whipped across the courts and through the decorations set up for the big day. You wouldn’t have known anything was amiss by the conversations of the players, though. Everyone exuded positivity and confidence. As I talked with the parents, a common theme was the perseverance and talent of this team, traits that were in full force against the gales. Says one parent, “We’ve been together for so long. Most girls have been on the team from middle school through now, so they’re a really special group.” The current seniors were freshmen when Coach Aaron and Coach Fisk joined the program. Under their leadership, the boys and girls teams have unified into one team, and they have “reignited a legacy of excellence.” The last time the girls' team was this dominant was the early 2000s. Some players attribute the atmosphere of friendship and teamwork to their success. Ansley Cox, a senior on the team, mentioned the team environment when asked about her favorite part of the sport: “Tennis is such an individual sport, but these girls make me feel like we’re all on the court together.”
Part of the Senior Night festivities included some of the underclassmen talking about the seniors. One girl said that Kenley “took me under her wing and gave me rides to practice and matches. She’s steady on and off the court and a great friend.” Wynn “does such a great job of leading the team, and she never gives up.” And Madison, her sister, said, “always tries to be all she can for everyone.” This team might win another map, but they’ve already got what matters most: genuine friendships with each other.
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