More than the Title

State champions again, the VHHS’s tennis teams line up for a picture, all photos courtesy of Grace Ding

Sunshine and sweat, cheers and shouts, “c’mon”s and tennis shoe skids. On April 24th and 25th in Mobile, the Vestavia Hills tennis teams competed in the State tournament. As you might have heard, both the boys' and girls’ teams won yet another state championship. They led by large margins, with multiple singles’ and all doubles’ championship titles collected.

However, those blue maps are more than a title; they’re a culmination of an entire season and all the experiences within it.

Throughout this spring semester, players have traveled all over the region to compete, varsity and JV. They’ve gone through it all together: chaotic bus rides, long dinner waits (really long), and the toughest of matches. They’ve also made memories of a lifetime, from celebrating wins on home courts to traveling to Disney World. With this many competitions, traveling, and practices together, it’s impossible not to form friendships with each other. After months of competing and having fun together, they dominated at Sectionals and geared up for the State tournament.

Tennis action!

At State, there are six single seeds and three doubles seeds for each the girls and boys. Each of these positions has their own bracket (for example, our first seed girl player is in a singles bracket against other schools’ first seed girl players). When it comes to the total team score, a singles match win counts for two points while a doubles match win counts for three points.

Most of the matches weren’t easy. Vestavia players had a lot of close games with split sets and intense tiebreaks. However, while the varsity team played the most competitive matches of the season, the rest of the team was there to cheer them on the entire time. They anxiously kept track of the scores, encouraging their team members after losing a long rally or cheering them on after an incredible win. No matter who from Vestavia was playing, their teammates were there to holler as loud as they could. Parents also watched matches in anticipation, spectating extraordinary games and applauding after every point. During the most intense parts of a match, the coaches pulled players aside to raise their morale and give tips. The whole tennis center was full of energy from all schools, but the Rebels were for sure some of the most passionate. We even brought home the Sportsmanship Award, where coaches voted for the most sportsmanship-like team. Their enthusiasm and unyielding support for one another perfectly represent what it means to be a Rebel.

In the end, Vestavia came out on top once again. These trophies not only symbolize the skill of the Rebels but also the close bonds they formed through the season. They comforted each other after tough losses, and they celebrated after the biggest of wins.

Moreover, this season is all the more special because the team is saying goodbye to eleven seniors, which makes up more than one-third of the team. From offering rides to cheering everyone on, this group especially made this year special with their strong leadership and enthusiasm. Many of them played at State, so younger players got to watch them persevere even when the scores weren’t in their favor.

The Championship Ice Bath

It’s been an incredible season for the Vestavia Hills tennis teams, where many memories and friendships were made. Go Rebels!