The Team Built on Trust: Redwood Girls Varsity Tennis vs Clovis Pre-Game

Redwood’s Varsity Girls Tennis prepares to face Clovis in enemy territory by overcoming nerves and staying prepared both physically and mentally. The Lady Rangers enter their upcoming match confident in one another and ready to take on the challenge.

By Jonathan Cornejo

The start of any challenge is always intimidating, especially when it’s against the toughest competitors. While it might seem intimidating, it’s sometimes good to have these types of nerves. Emma Largoza ‘27, believes there will always be nerves going into a game, but that you just have to use them as motivation and win every point.

Largoza is preparing herself by fueling her body, staying hydrated throughout the day, and getting a good amount of rest.

Largoza will be relying on directing her nerves in order to score as many extra points as possible, even when the pressure starts getting to her.

Largoza is, “Confident in my team and that’s because I think we have built a lot of trust and we’re really good at community and we’re like family together, and I think we’re gonna have a great season overall.”

The team is getting better and better by calming their nervousness, doubts, and growing confidence with every game.

Caroline Richardson ‘26, describes tennis as being very mentally and physically exhausting, but being able to keep calm under pressure all by yourself.

Richardson has been preparing herself by practicing and concentrating on what she’s being told by her coach. As a captain, her duty is making sure that all the girls are focusing on what they need to do.

Richardson describes her improvements, “The last few games have been different, some good, some bad, some easy, some hard, and it can be difficult, but each game has a learning experience because every girl plays differently and it’s best to adapt.”

Richardson believes the team is, “Great, it’s made up of a bunch of seniors and then a junior and a sophomore so we all have experience in tennis, and we’re all dedicated to the sport, and all have a passion for it,” said Richardson.

While nerves can be very present in all players, Han Nguyen ‘28, comes ready, “I don’t have any nerves going into this game. For my first match I was nervous, but now I’m picking up on it and getting more used to it.”

Nguyen will be relying on attack, describing herself as aggressive when she sees the ball coming her way, always ready to cross the borderline between waiting and making the play.

Nguyen prepares herself for every game using a technique called Box Breathing. She describes it as inhaling for four seconds, holding it for four seconds, and exhaling for four seconds. She uses this technique to calm her nerves and to relax, finding her own form of stress relief before stepping onto the court.

Nguyen is confident in their team as they are,“ D1 in tennis. I have faith in my team, and I feel like we can do really well in all of our matches.”

Amalia Cabrera ‘29, is the youngest on the Varsity team, only being a sophomore. Cabrera says, “It’s a lot of pressure to keep up with the rest of the girls, but I love it. They’re all so nice to me.”

She describes the team as her older sisters, and for that reason, it brings them all closer together due to their shared experience.

Cabrera knows that there are nerves going into every match but none in particular going into this next one. Her reliance goes to her partner and her consistent serves.

Cabrera starts her preparation with three Ibuprofens before every match and good nutritious food with liquid IV.

There’s no surprise that the girls are confident in each other, believing that as long as they’re dependent on one another, nothing could stand in their way.

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