In an exciting display of sportsmanship and companionship, the annual Teacher-Student Tennis Tournament took place last week, bringing together faculty and students for a thrilling day of matches. The event, held on the school’s tennis courts, showcased not only the athletic prowess of participants but also the strong bonds that exist within the Spartan community.
The tournament kicked off after school last Thursday with a buzz of excitement in the air. Teams were composed of one teacher and one student, fostering a spirit of collaboration and mutual respect. The matches were played in a bracket format, where the winners of games would move on to the next round of the winners bracket, and the losers would be knocked out. There was still a losers bracket where they could keep playing.
Head coach Ryan Pace started this tradition in one of the first few years he started coaching about ten years ago as a fundraiser opportunity to raise money to go to both the girls and boys tennis teams. The fundraiser portion was then taken out after COVID. “The fundraiser was a great portion of it and it didn’t make a ton of money and we have a tournament and a banner that we do that make a lot more just coming out of season,” Pace said. “I just don’t personally have time, so we have taken the fundraiser out. If somebody wants to take that back up in the future we will but for now it’s bigger than a fundraiser.”
Sophomore Hayden Atchley, a varsity tennis player, explained who she chose. “Mrs Rivera and why I chose her is because she is incredibly competitive and Ive learned that through playing softball,” Atchley said.
This fun tradition gets students to see their teachers outside of the the “serious education classroom environment,” Mr. Cruz Rodriguez stated. The ability to see teachers outside of a teaching element is huge, and allows for students to grow a connection with their teachers and same for teachers to see their students out doing something that they love.
The tournament is also a fun way for students and teachers to balance the competitive spirit with the fun aspect of the game of tennis. “I think it’s one of those things that gets students and teachers doing something outside of academic work but you get to see people outside of the classroom and some people are really good. Some teachers are really great and we have some teachers who don’t know which hand to hold their ratchet in,” Pace said.
The Teacher-Student Tennis Tournament was a resounding success, highlighting the importance of community and the joy of shared experience. It was a day filled with laughter, sportsmanship, and unforgettable moments, reminding us of all of the special connections that make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.
