by Kai Peterson
On August 23rd, I got the chance to speak to our exceptional captain of the Benicia High School Women’s Tennis team, Gaelen Ancheta. She was able to give an inside scoop on herself, and what the tennis team means to her. We also discussed expectations of the tennis team and what we have to look forward to going into the new season.
When did you start playing tennis, and when did you realize you enjoyed it?
“I started playing tennis in 6th grade, when I seriously took it more professionally and I started to like it more. I liked it a lot because of the people who were there, and I realized I like being more competitive. I also enjoyed competing with a team.”
What is the team like? How would you describe the environment regarding teammates, and coaches?
“I would say the team is very family oriented. It’s almost like we are all sisters or we take care of each other like we are all family. We are all very accepting and the coach is very funny, and he is kind of like a dad to us.”
What would you say is your favorite part of being on the Tennis Team?
“My favorite part is- since I’ve become a captain I am able to help and lead my other teammates. I like to be able to play individually, but the fact we are able to win as a team is very fun and that it’s a group effort. At the end of the day it is all about having fun and that no matter win or lose, we are all having a good time.”
What would you say to anyone on the fence, with whether or not to join the Tennis Team?
“I would say, tennis is a very beginner friendly sport. There’s no cutoff, no real audition you have to do in order to get on the team. So if you are looking for a sport to begin with, tennis is really fun because the team is very nice and accepting, the coach is too. It’s a really fun sport to play, especially when you get to know it more, because a lot of people don’t think it’s fun based on watching. The sport is quick to learn, and you will be happy if you choose to learn it.”
Lastly, what should we look forward to seeing from our Tennis Team at BHS?
“Look forward to a lot of wins. We were the champions last year, undefeated. Also expect a lot of fun, we represent fun a lot with our positivity in the team and we make it clear that we are very happy and like the sport, and no matter win or loss that we are able to represent each other, the team, and the sport very well.”
Make sure to tune in to our upcoming BHS Tennis matches and be on the lookout for more spectacular performances from our captain, Gaelen Ancheta!
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