by Payton Gentry | staff writer

Last year, the Jag tennis team defeated their biggest two district opponents-Regean and Churchill-but still ended up playing the annual State finalist, New Braunfels. Last year was the first year of this new competition format, which means that the Jags are preparing to face different teams, with differing strengths.

“It’s a good idea on paper, but considering the we are in the same bi-district as New Braunfels, who’s a national powerhouse, this will be a bigger challenge for us,” senior tennis player Jake Soderdahl said.

Instead of having a district tournament at the end of the season, every district match counts and makes the season as a whole a district tournament. The top four seeds move into an area tournament.

“The top two teams from our entire area make an eight team tournament, which makes qualifying for Regionals much more difficult than it use to be,” head tennis coach Sean Reno said. “In my opinion, however, it does not send the best teams necessarily to the regional tournament…”

Even though the format has changed, many players say it has not changed their focus or the way they practice.

“I’m just trying to get better everyday. It hasn’t changed my focus at all,” senior tennis player Lauren Kraus said.

 Regardless of the competition format, the Jags are always ready to compete and beat those age-old rivals.

“I always try to put together the best team possible and this new format hasn’t changed how I builds this team,” Reno said.