As Warren County girls tennis head coach Hannah Belew enters her second season under the helm, Belew said it was the growth, not just the wins, that stood out most to her after holding the reigns for 12 months.
Belew inherited a roster that returned most of its players. With limited time to practice and only one scrimmage under their belts, Warren County opened the season against White County, a moment Belew remembers clearly.
“We had only been practicing together for maybe two weeks when they first had that match,” Belew said. “So it was definitely nerve wracking going into it but I definitely think we’ve grown since that first match.”
Belew, who also serves as a full-time teacher in the Warren County School System, said she has since leaned into the balance tennis requires, both mentally and as a team.
“It’s a team sport, but it’s very much so an individual sport,” Belew said. “Even though you have to rally with yourself, you have to rally with each other to get that match finished.”
The Pioneers look to improve from their run in the district tournament, picking up several wins in individual matches but falling short of qualifying for regionals. Belew said she looks to meet and exceed expectations as the spring approaches.
“I wasn’t sure what I was walking into joining this program,” she said. “But we had a very successful season.”
Belew said her focus is on building confidence and sharpening the team’s mindset for the upcoming season. Belew will open her second season as Warren County tennis head coach in March.
