Personal Narrative: Wakeland High School Tennis Team

Throughout playing tennis for Creekside Middle School, I have faced lots of success. I played varsity all three years there, and during my sixth grade year, helped my team win the annual county tournament between middle schools. Though I was successful for many of my matches, I did met with failure at times. One of these times would be in my seventh grade year, when my doubles partner and I had lost in the final round of the tournament. This defeat would be one of the reasons that led the Creekside tennis team placing outside of the top three at the county tournament.

I squinted at the podium from my seat in the middle of the tennis courts at Franklin Middle School, while the glistening sun sheltered me that June day. The principal, in a shouting voice, exclaimed, “The 2012-2013 Franklin Middle School Treuchet-Crumbaugh Citizenship Award goes to… Grant Zangwill.” I, along with every other eyeball in attendance, looked at myself. In an instant, I relived countless moments of middle school. Earlier that morning, I had won the Physical Education Department’s Sportsmanship Award but there was something different, something more special, about this one. Every teacher voted on this award and they chose me. I made my way to the isle, while all my friends wished their congratulations or patted me on the back, and then stiffly walked up to the podium. Although I did not realize it at that moment, I entered a new part of my life with accepting the citizenship award.

Throughout my years of participating in high school basketball, I have overcome many challenges. My freshmen year, basketball started in a way I never expected. Continuing on, I understood the real meaning of hard work, and what it takes. Lessons I learned in basketball will carry on throughout my life, helping me to become a successful adult.

Whenever you step on a competitive tennis match, it’s not surprising if you get cold feet. After all, we’re sure that even the top tennis stars still feel nervous especially when they play against their strongest rivals in a highly anticipated match. They feel it, but unlike you, they have learned to overcome the jitters and go over the hump to play to their abilities.

Breath was rushing out the kid who wore a Gray and blue uniform, the boy 's hair was black and poked straight up in twisted curls, he had brown eyes that looked like dirt, he was strong and athletic, his name was D’haquille Jones, and I was DhaQuille Jones, staring down at the newly glazed floorboards of John Pickett high school gym. The ref blew the whistle signaling that our time out was over, and all we had was thirteen precious seconds to beat the Valencia high. I jogged onto the court, adrenaline rushing through my body. The ref tossed the ball towards Chris, once he had found the open man he lobbed it over the oncoming defender. Calling for the ball I sprinted around my defender to get open. I Felt the sticky grip of the ball in my hand thinking of it as if I was holding the entire game. I ignored the fans screaming my name and cheering me on. My feet pounded the floor one by one as the ball bounced up and down on the court, with only five seconds I found my lane and took it. Their was the clock taunting me, four,

The Edwardsville tennis program has taught me so much about striving for excellence and the pay off of hard work. This was shown last year. With one week left in the season, one of our top player was injured at the conference. I was the next player on the roster, and, after only playing a few varsity tennis matches during the season, was asked to transition from cheerleader to champion and play at the sectional tournament. I stayed after practice every day that week to prepare with one of the assistant coaches. I ended up not only playing well, but

A team in Concord, Calif., has had a win streak of 151 games. North Atlanta High School 's team can barely pull off three wins this season. The Spartans have had plenty of perfect seasons. North Atlanta closest time ever in the school’s history was to getting a perfect season was going 7-3 in 2010.The team from California doesn 't know the meaning of defeat.North Atlanta barely knows the feeling of winning.

It was a normal day for me. I was in eighth grade, and I was getting ready for school. When I was ready for school, I sat down at the table and waited for everyone else to be ready. While I was waiting, I decided to make some breakfast for myself. So, I made a bowl of cereal, some eggs, and a cup of milk, along with an apple. I had to make sure I got my daily nutrients, as I remembered, Hey! I have a game today! As I thought about it; how I would prepare myself for the night, I thought of ways I could improve my game.

It was an early Saturday morning in October, when the Panther girls softball team were playing for a third straight win. The two games before that flew by easily, we won both and were playing to be seeded first in the tournaments the next day. The crowd was full of excitement, parents yelling, and the coach yelling at the umpires, because of bad calls. We were nervous because it was a really good team that had 3 of the best players in the state. We had played them in two previous tournaments, and lost on the second day, so this time we were determined to beat them.

His first serve of the match rocketed right down the tee for an ace. 15-love. He followed that with a high-arching topspin serve out wide, and ran in for a volley. I quickly lunge and pop it just over the net, where he was waiting. HE hit a clean volley to the opposite corner. 30-love. As the match progressed, I began to realize that this was not the same player that I had beaten just a few months earlier. I nhad no answers for his goundstrokes. The next thirty-five minutes flew by as Isaac hit ace after ace, winner after winner, and I made mistake after mistake, resulting in a 1-6, 1-6 defeat. I was stunned. After the match, he told me how hard he had worked to get ready for this match. Not in the mood to talk to the man who had just administered an immense blow to my pride, I walked off the court, muttering profanities and making excuses. Later that day, as I told my brother of my defeat, expecting him to condone my excuses, he just said a quote a quote from Benjamin Franklin. He said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail”. As I refelcted on my brothers knowledge, I came to realize that I lost because I wasn 't prepared. I realized that Isaac had spent hours preparing and getting

It's the last minute of our game against Fox Mills. We’re neck and neck. So close that the smallest mistake will determine our fate. I clutch the ball as tight as a hawk trying not to release its prey. Then I dribble as fast as a cheetah. The chilling breeze brushed up against my skin, thankfully drying up some of the sweat that was finding its way into my eyes. My hand still trembling with nervousness, and my stomach churning with nausea. I was approaching the basket and the crowd starts to rise like a Tsunami. As I got really close to the basket I got into my layup position. Taking two swift steps and then just simply serving the ball on to the backboard. Right when the ball left my fingertips all eyes were glued on the ball. Next thing

It happened on June 11, 2015. My lacrosse team won our regional quarter final game the previous day—I scored my personal best of five goals and was named Player of the Game. As a reward for the win, my coach gave us a three hour practice the next day that was strictly conditioning—leaving the seniors 30 minutes to go home, shower, change, and drive to our Senior Dinner at Bowdoin College. I raced home from practice, my sweat sticking to the car leather seats, music blasting, and the wind in my hair. I had the future on my mind: playoffs, graduation, summer, and college. I took an ice cold shower and threw on a dress, making my way to Bowdoin 15 minutes late (and still sweating). I went through the motions of the Senior Dinner that night: I

When the year started our team included a lot of inexperienced, unenthused players. This was probably due to the lack of school spirit and the unpopularity of high school tennis. I worked hard to help these students and increase their love and enthusiasm for the sport. After a few weeks, I was elected by these other players as varsity team captain. As team captain, I lead by example through attending all practices, having good sportsmanship, and always giving 100 percent. I was always trying to help other players with their form and other tennis skills. During conditioning, I displayed a positive attitude and tried my best to get others to show an equally positive attitude. I also inspired school spirit in younger players by having outstanding school spirit myself. Despite my love for my old school, I tried very hard to support and love my new school in order to show leadership. As the season began our team did not have very much success in matches, but me and my co-captain always worked to make everyone stay optimistic and have a good time despite the setbacks. I always cheered on the other players and pushed others to join me. Eventually the team became a family. As a captain, I believe I lead this new team to improve both their playing and

The booming sound of the buzzer finally called for the 12 athletes to line up on either side of the net. As soon as Casey stepped on the court, she felt a sickening feeling in her stomach and mind. What if they did not win, she thought. Casey rapidly let the idea leave her mind as she turned to her team and attempted to break the mood that hovered over the team like a thunderstorm with massive, treacherous clouds.

When I decided to try out for volleyball my senior year of high school, I was so nervous. I had always been very athletic, but never played a sport like this other than during p.e. at school. But I decided to go for it and take the chance to try something new. The moment I walked into the gym I saw numerous girls performing volleyball drills and hits and I wondered what I had gotten myself into. Coach Deatrea Jones came up to my family and I and greeted us with a big smile and handed us the tryout form. She was so friendly and it made me feel at home on the court. As we were starting the drills she asked me if I was a tennis player because she thought I looked like one; I 'm not, but hearing that as a compliment from her meant a lot to me. Coach Jones was