Stone Memorial Boys Tennis Coach Nicole Masood gets excited for every practice the boys tennis team partakes in.
During the season, Stone Memorial lets both the girls and the boys tennis teams practice together. During those practices, both teams play matches against each other. Masood said her practices remain competitive because of the intensity each team brings.
“Somebody wants to win all the time,” Masood said. “And, you know, my girls get out there and they just, they’re so competitive against the boys. They’re going to beat the boys so sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Stone Memorial dealt with injuries to start last season. The injuries lingered on into the regular season. Masood said despite the nagging injuries, her team found a way to step up.
“They held their own. They rose up to the occasion and did what they had to do,” Masood said. “We struggled a little bit, but my boys were amazing throughout the season, just good attitudes.”
Masood said she asks the team a question before every match.
“When we get out into matches, I have to ask them, are you afraid to win, or are you afraid to lose? Which one is it?” Masood said. “If they play to their ability and have that competitiveness, you know, thrive during that match, most of the time my kids will go out there and put up a good fight.”
The Stone Memorial Panthers boys tennis team remains in search of their first ever state tournament appearance.
