By Danny Brady
With the snow and ice melted off the Appleton courts, the Springfield College tennis programs are set to kick off their seasons next week. The teams have faced challenging circumstances due to the winter weather and have restricted their preparation. They have been forced to hold limited practices in the fieldhouse since the end of fall.
“It’s more of a challenge getting court space because we have to share that facility with other teams and there are also only four courts so typically outside, both teams can’t practice at the same time,” said head coach Tanner DeVarennes.
The conditions of the field house courts differ vastly from the normal outdoor hard courts that the programs are used to.
“It’s very unrealistic,” said sophomore Angelo Guzman. “There’s no sunlight, there’s no wind, and the ball is coming at you super fast, so you have to stay as low to the ground as you can and direct the ball.”
While the fieldhouse surface is more challenging to play on, junior Catie Seklecki believes the experience practicing on the surface has been beneficial.
“It highlights the flaws in your game and that can be a positive because when we get back to normal courts it will be more of a slower pace and we’ll be ready for that,” said Seklecki.
Both teams have added talent from the transfer portal this season. On the women’s side, Seklecki moved about three miles across the city to join Springfield from Western New England. When she entered the portal, Springfield stood out to her right away.
“They really care about their athletes here and the facilities are super nice,” said Seklecki, “When I reached out to coach Tanner, he was very welcoming and it immediately felt like the right fit.”
On the men’s side, Guzman decided to transfer in from Wilkes College. Springfield was originally his first choice coming out of high school and was immediately at the top of his list when he decided to enter the portal.
“The physical therapy program here is top of the line,” said Guzman. “I also knew the tennis team here had good success in the past and I wanted to go back to what my gut was telling me.”
While Seklecki has only been at Springfield for a short period of time, she has already fit seamlessly into the women’s program’s culture.
“I can be very open and honest with my coaches and teammates and that is something I really appreciate,” said Seklecki. “Everyone is really comfortable around each other and we all have that mutual respect.”
Guzman has enjoyed his time with the men’s program as well.
“It’s been very easy to bond with these guys,” said Guzman. “They’re a lot of fun to be around but we can also be serious when we need to be.”
When speaking on how the transfers will impact the team, DeVarennes is confident that both have what it takes to thrive.
“We have our main key foundations that we can always lean on and that’s to hold each other accountable, and to make sure we’re working hard and supporting our teammates at the same time,” said DeVarennes.
As the season nears, both programs have been able to practice outdoors for the first time since the fall this past week.
“The whole goal of practice was just to get acclimated to the surface and outside conditions again,” said DeVarennes. “This week of practice will be really helpful as we get ready for spring break.”
Re-adjusting to the normal hard court took some time for the players, but it was an experience that was urgently needed.
“It wasn’t easy and it definitely took an extended warm up but the energy from the team was there and everyone was excited to be outside again,” said Guzman.
When looking ahead to the season, Seklecki is ready to compete for Springfield for the first time.
“This conference is a lot more challenging and I am excited to push myself,” said Seklecki. “I’m looking forward to enjoying my time on court more and having fun with the team.”
As Guzman prepares to wield the racket for the first time with the Pride, he is confident that the men’s program will have a successful campaign.
“We have 12 guys on the team and everyone is so close in level,” said Guzman. “It’s so competitive everyday but we all have the same goal, to make it to the championship and win that conference.”
Both programs are scheduled to start their seasons this Monday at the USTA National Campus in Orlando, Florida. Each is scheduled for four matches in consecutive days.
“I’m really excited to see us compete, support each other, and represent the programs proudly,” said DeVarennes. “It’s a great week not just to train but it’s also an opportunity to continue to build our culture and grow closer together.”
DeVarennes is encouraged by the improvements that both programs have shown over the course of the year in preparation for the season.
“We’re really starting to find solutions more efficiently, and quicker,” said DeVarennes. “Even if plan A doesn’t work, our players have found other ways to fight and compete.”
While DeVarennes has seen encouraging signs, he knows that both programs still have a long way to go before they can achieve their goals.
“Both teams have a really good chance to do some positive things in the league but we’ve gotta take it one day at a time and focus on the present,” said DeVarennes. “We need to continue to string good practices and performances together.”
(Image courtesy of Springfield College Athletics)