The Stevens boys’ tennis team is in full swing. The Rapid City boys’ tennis team has 5 returning players who are on varsity. With months of preparation and commitment to improve, the team is
trying to get at least the top 5 this year at state. With singles and doubles, the boys’ tennis team has proven it can hang with some of the toughest teams in the state.
The varsity consists of 6 players. Dayler Segrist, Max Phares, Landin Roozenboom, and Caleb Belisle are seniors. Joshua Meuller is a junior, and Braden Nelson is a sophomore. These students
have put in time to get better and are able to compete at a high level. Many students on the Stevens boys’ tennis team say that being part of the program is awesome. “The best part is all the
friends I’ve made with it and the bus trips with the team,” said Dayler Segrist. For many players, the team offers a break from school, all while they can enjoy something fun and be competitive with different people. “My favorite part of tennis is the people and all the bus trips we go on; they are super fun, and we get to eat good food,” said Landin Roozenboom.
Even though students enjoy playing tennis at Stevens, there are also some parts they don’t enjoy. “My least favorite part is how it can be really hot or cold, and we have to play no matter what the
weather is,” said Dayler Segrist. It’s tough to stay focused when you’re running around for hours, especially in the heat after a close match. Losing matches is not always fun, but the rest of the
team has each other’s backs. Landin Roozenboom says, “My least favorite part of Stevens tennis is losing close matches and how we have to go out and play more after a loss.” Players learn that
their teammates will always have their backs, so they don’t have to stress if they lose a match.
Although there are positives and negatives about playing tennis, each student has different
individual goals for the season. The varsity team’s main goal this year is to get to the podium at the state tournament in Sioux Falls. This would be a huge accomplishment for the team because
it shows that they have improved from last year. “My main goal this year is to get to the podium this year for the 6 spot and to get podium for number 3 doubles,” said Landin Roozenboom. The
kids on the junior varsity also have goals this year. Jace Denholm says, “My main goal is to improve from last year and to just get better overall”. This season for the boys can be special if
they stick together and encourage each other to give their best effort.
The Stevens boys’ tennis team enjoys competing at a high level, the team unity, and taking on the challenges of a new season. While some things can be a struggle, their main goal is to keep
improving and peak at the end of the season so they can stand on the podium with pride at state. With a positive attitude, the team is ready for the season ahead and hopes to achieve all of their goals this year. The team’s state tournament is on May 22nd and 23rd in Sioux Falls. Make sure to mark your calendars and cheer on your Raider boys.
