As the North Atlanta tennis team starts practicing on the courts, they prepare for the toughest season they will have in the upcoming years. With players leaving, moving up to a new region and a new coach coming in, the Warriors are ready to face a lot of adversity this season.

As it is every year in high school and college sports, seniors move on and leave the team lacking their skill and leadership. In the case of North Atlanta Tennis, the two biggest losses come as the #1 boy on the team, John Lieng, and the #14 girl in the country, Emma Kurtz, move away. Both moved on to play collegiate tennis and left a hole in the boys and girls teams, respectively. Captains Donovan Davis, senior, and Kate Jern, sophomore, are aware that their teams are very young and lack experience. “Most of our team is underclassmen and have little background in tennis,” said Davis, “We will work together to get them to a competitive level and get better as a team as well. I hope we can get to the state playoffs as we haven’t since I have played on the team.”

North Atlanta High School was moved from a 5A to a 6A region which has plagued many teams. The tennis team is no exception. Moving up a region means bigger schools and tougher opponents. Being in a harder region and being such a young team is not an easy combination to overcome. “We haven’t worked together too long. We have our individual strengths and need to capitalized on the as a team. I expect our team to become closer and learn from each other, regardless of wins and losses,” said Jern.

The tennis team faces a unique circumstance of having a third coach in four years. Vacheal Hutchins, a first-year math teacher at North Atlanta, has stepped up to the task of coaching both the boys and girls teams. With seven years of coaching under his belt, he is ready to take the Warriors to the next level. According to Hutchins the players bring a lot of experience and willingness to the table and seem to get along and push each other. He believes these characteristics will make the team function as a whole. However, the players need to step out of their comfort zones to perfect the skills that would take their game to another level. “We want to win, of course. Nevertheless, I have always emphasized first and foremost to have fun and to enjoy it. I am willing to listen to my players and do not want them to be uncomfortable or unhappy,” said Hutchins.

The North Atlanta tennis team has a lot on their plate in the way of challenges, but be ready for them to step up. Under the leadership of Davis, Jern, and Hutchins, they seem to be geared up to take on the this season.