A player's account of the state tennis championships
- Aurora Madsen
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
JDHS junior Aurora Madsen reflects on her travel with the Crimson Bears
By Aurora Madsen
For the Juneau Independent
Editor’s note: Aurora Madsen is a member of the JDHS tennis team. She wrote this as part of a student feature documenting her experience at the ASAA High School State Tennis Championships in Anchorage.
This year, the ASAA High School State Tennis Championship brought intense competition and high-level performances. As a second-year returning player in the competition, I expected, but still felt, the steady pressure of the event.
The team arrived in Anchorage on Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 9:30 a.m. The first stop from the airport is always the same place — Gwennie's Old Alaska Restaurant. After all my teammates and coaches have a hearty breakfast of reindeer sausage or French toast, we head to the Alaska Club East for a short practice. The team usually warms up all their strokes — groundstrokes, volleys, and serves — as well as some live-play to prepare for the tournament the next day.
We ended the travel day with a team dinner and a meeting with the coaches, discussing the key strategy and encouragement for the following day.
Starting on Thursday, Oct. 9, the three-day tournament brought matches filled with a combination of stress and excitement for the players, coaches, and even spectators. About every 30 minutes from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Dana Griffin, the tournament director who has been graciously volunteering her time to run the championship for a decade, announces, "The next court available will be...," for example, "girls' doubles, Juneau-Douglas versus West Anchorage." This sparks the mixture of stress and adrenaline felt throughout the match.
Before each match, I briefly greet my opponents. It is a chance to meet or reconnect with a pair of skillful tennis players from another high school in Alaska.
After entering the court, a player will spin their racket or an official will perform a coin toss, deciding which team will take the first serve. Then the official "five-minute warmup" begins, which is less of a warmup and more of a chance to size up the competition.
During these crucial five minutes, players will gently rally and warm up groundstrokes, volleys, and serves. My strategy is to closely observe both of my opponents. I identify the weaker player, as well as the weaker stroke, backhand or forehand, of both players, which are important factors to exploit during the match. Finally, before the match begins, my partner and I will discuss any observations we made.
The match itself requires incredible mental strength and endurance. There is a surge of thoughts and emotions felt through each point of the match. Navigating my focus through the tension of each point, noise from the other three courts, my anger from the last line call, cheering from opposing teams, and staying present within each point is a challenging task.
I do my best to keep my mind focused on the game plan my coaches mapped out with our team snacks before the match. I picture the two red gummies, my partner and I, facing the two extra cheddar goldfish from West Anchorage High School.
After each set, there is a "set break," in which players have two short minutes to speak with their coaches. Coach Austin Stefanich explains, "It is crucial to get out there and be positive, and inspire the player to keep going to finish out the match. I try to keep it simple, concise, and give them the confidence to go out and play their best against their opponents."
In the balcony, the spectators, arguably one of the most silent of any sport, heavily factor into my mind during matches. The cheering for the opponent's team can be difficult to ignore during tough points, especially while serving. My coaches' and teammates' motivation in the audience is vital.
In addition to this, as a doubles player, I also have my partner, Riley Dale. She is one of my most supportive and uplifting teammates and is essential to our success in the tournament. As her partner, I do my best to mirror her support, reminding her of the game plan, commending her best shots, and keeping her present in the game.
After the match is finished, I'll always shake hands with my opponent, as customary in tennis. Then, the players will exit the court and report their scores.
At the end of each day, we would have a team dinner, usually at an Anchorage staple like Moose's Tooth Pizzeria. Whether players won straight-set matches or were eliminated from the tournament that day, I think we all looked forward to getting ice cream at Dairy Queen and playing card games in the hotel lobby together.
In this tournament, my partner and I won two matches, but also lost two matches. These losses are, of course, discouraging, but are made easier through the support of my caring teammates, encouraging coaches, and the spirit of the competition to work hard and come back stronger each year.
