When the first official meeting for all players interested in trying out for the tennis team took place on Wed., Feb. 26, Coach Mike Teets announced that tryouts would be held from Mar. 10 through 15. The only catch was that they will not be held at the new SHS courts.

Instead of having tryouts at SHS, players will travel by bus to the Lindner Family Tennis Center (LFT) in Mason. This massive, 16-court venue hosts the Western and Southern Open every August, where the world’s top ranked tennis players compete.

“I am really excited that our tryouts are at the W&S Open this year. Hopefully, I will get to play on a show court where all the pros play,” said David Muskal, 11.

Due to the rough winter that Cincinnati has experienced, construction has been halted on the new courts, which were originally set to be completed by the start of the boys’ season. They are expected to be finished during or before the first home matches.

“It’s a shame that we will not get to feel our courts out before the season starts, but I am fine with playing at a world class venue like the Lindner Family Tennis Center,” said Nimit Desai, 12.

During the week of Mar. 15, players will board a bus to LFT at 2:40 p.m. Once everyone arrives, Teets will arrange matches on all of the courts to determine whether each player makes the Varsity Gold, Green, or Junior Varsity team.

“I know for a fact that our tennis is easily one of the hungriest and most hard-working teams out there, if not the most. We want that state title, and nothing short of it,” said Nakul Narendran, 11.