On October 15th, the RDHS Girls’ Tennis team celebrated Senior Day, honoring the seniors’ dedication, growth, and achievements throughout their years on the tennis team. Many have played since they were freshmen, developing teamwork and leadership skills that impacted the whole team.
Seniors Angela Lee, Maddy Connor, Roxanne Felix, and Daniella Ra have been key players on the varsity team. Their leadership skills have led to the team’s success, and continue to inspire their teammates.
Underclassmen look up to seniors not only for their athletic abilities, but also their attitudes on and off the courts. Sophomore Aimee Lee said, “Some important things I’ve learned from the seniors was teamwork. Especially in doubles, you need to work as a team no matter who your partner is.”
Aimee was also one of many players that helped prepare for Senior Day by making senior posters. She helped make a poster for her sister Angela.
Junior Varsity Coach Beth Appell praised the seniors and said, “When both Varsity and JV practice at the same time, JV girls learn from Varsity about more consistent hitting and ball placement. All the Varsity girls are polite, welcoming and willing to help the JV to be better players. They were all in that same position at one time, so they remember how they felt.”
Coach Appell also highlighted important lessons seniors learned on the team, such as “communication skills, supporting your partner with praise,” and that “you can learn more from your mistakes than your successes.”
Senior varsity player, Roxanne Felix, shared her experiences this season, and said “I’ve learned to channel pressure into peak performance, balance early-morning practices with AP coursework, and sharpened my serve accuracy.”
Senior team captain Maddy Connor also reflected on her time playing tennis for RDHS. She said, “This team has taught me how important having fun is. I think Coach Loria and Coach Appell worked really hard to make our practices and matches a fun place to be and an outlet for all of us. Everyone truly wanted to be there and give their full effort everyday.”
Connor also shared the importance of leading and inspiring others on the team as the captain, making sure they felt supported and loved. “I just can’t put into words how much I loved playing [and] being captain of this team,” she said.
Felix hopes that underclassmen players “built mental toughness to bounce back from tough losses, master fundamentals before chasing power, communicate clearly on court, and have friendships that fuel both growth and fun.”
“Thank you for pushing me beyond my limits, instilling grit and unity that have shaped my character, and inspiring me to carry these lessons into every future challenge,” said Felix.
Felix shared that “It’s bittersweet. I’m proud of how far we’ve come as a team, but it’s hard to think about not playing with my friends everyday. This team has been like a second family to me.”
As senior day ended, the team shared memories and goodbyes. Aimee Lee added, “We are going to miss you, good luck at college!”