Just like the shovel that hangs from the fence near the Redmond High boys tennis banner, the Mustangs aim to dig deep and notch success.
Bringing the shovel to matches has become part of the team’s 4A Kingco match ritual, and they also used their tennis rackets to the fullest during Tuesday’s 5-2 home victory over Woodinville High.
Coach Stephen Thornsberry wants his players to be focused on their techniques during matches, setting themselves up for proper swings and follow-throughs. If that’s achieved, the score will take care of itself, he said. Thornsberry also encourages the Mustangs to always be aggressive.
Redmond victors on Tuesday were: Van Kim (6-2, 4-6, 6-3) and Noah Yeo (7-6, 6-3) at Nos. 3 and 4 singles, respectively, and Nos. 1-3 doubles teams of Ethan Raffman/Adarsh Karnati (6-4, 6-3), Petar Nikolic/Keenan Ganz (6-4, 6-2) and Richard Zhang/Dalai Chadraa (7-6, 6-1). The victory raised Redmond’s league record to 2-4.
Karnati, one of Redmond’s senior captains, said that while practice is key, players also have to improve on the mistakes they’ve made to turn things around.
“You have to analyze what you’re doing and make the corrections,” said Karnati, who began playing tennis in sixth grade, and thrives in his spot on doubles teams.
People don’t often perceive tennis as a team sport, but in doubles, there’s teamwork, strategy and movement that takes center court, the fourth-year Mustang added.
“It’s really the communication with the other person that I enjoy. I like making a connection with my teammate,” he said, adding that he’s also formed bonds with all the Mustang players.
Aaron Ong, another senior captain and fourth-year Mustang, plays mainly No. 1 singles and has a 4-2 Kingco record this season.
He began playing competitively in eighth grade, but initially latched onto the sport at age 4 or 5.
“We used to take family lessons, and over the years it was just something I always enjoyed, especially during the summertime, just on a nice sunny day,” said Ong, who added that he thrives on the Kingco competition. “I always look forward to high school season. It’s my favorite time of the year. It’s what I train for in the offseason to just go out here with my friends and play against some of the best players in Kingco and just have fun.”
Ong recalls a grueling, three-set victory against his Inglemoor High opponent this season, during which he lost the first game, won the second and then gutted it out to take the tiebreaker.
His keys to victory: “I think the mental game is a huge part in tennis. It’s easy just to get down on yourself, but (you) just gotta keep grinding, keep working at it, and just move on from match to match with the same attitude: You can win.”
Thornsberry noted that Nikolay Bykov and Simon Liu are also key Mustangs who are shining this year and should lead the team in the coming years.
While Redmond is without the services of last year’s No. 1 singles star and No. 2 state placer Adam Guo, who is now at Sammamish High, coach Thornsberry puts a positive spin on the situation:
“We hated to lose him, but it’s allowed other people to play tougher matches than they normally would. They’ve had to move up and I think that’s good for them. It makes them better players, and at the end of the day, it’s all about building character,” said the coach, adding that the Mustangs are also academic stars in the classroom.
