By Karen Flores, Staff Writer
The Manhattan University Tennis Club, which is currently in its second year, continues to introduce students across campus to a fun and interactive way of remaining active with the goal of being able to play on a competitive level.
Sorcha Gield, a senior accounting major, is one of the co-captains of the team. She shared a bit about the current structure of the club with regard to practices and different drills they perform based on skill level.
“We meet two to three times a week this year,” Gield said. “One of our goals when practicing is to be able to get people to spend a decent amount of time playing. We have a diverse range of skill levels, which is great. We have people who’ve just started, those who have played competitively and those who play recreationally which is really great. So at practice, we split it up in different sections such as one group doing drilling, another just playing matches, and then a group that is centered around learning basic technique.”
Gield has been reaching out to other schools that may have a tennis club or team in order to build connections that could help her elevate the MU Tennis club not only to be able to play matches with them but to also make the team one that could compete in different tournaments.
“My goal for this year is just being able to get connections with other schools that could be a sort of guidance when we prepare our team to take part in competitions,” Gield said. “We have a lot of schools in the area that are willing to play, but there is a club circuit where you play matches, where you play to go to Nationals, different tournaments. Having these connections and friendships would be able to help me figure out how to form part of the club circuit.”
Ishaan Jani, a sophomore political science major, is co-captain of the team. He shared that his prior experience in teaching tennis has transcribed into helping MU students learn how to play in a safe way.
“I’ve actually worked as a private tennis coach myself in my hometown in Jersey,” Jani said. “So I had experience doing that. It’s a little different, though, because when I coach, it’s usually young kids or adults 50 years and older. It was never really anyone around my age. But I do enjoy working with my friends and teaching them, it’s a new experience and we always have a good time.”
Despite the club still being relatively new, Jani finds that speaking about the club and encouraging people to come and stop by for an afternoon has had a positive impact on the group.
“Last year, a lot of people did not know we had a tennis club because it was so new,” Jani said. “So I felt that was a good way to promote the club itself over here. When I told my friends about it, they’re like, ‘Oh, that’s cool.’ And then we’re trying to set up more matches, more practice slots and it grew in momentum. So one, it’d be more like interacting between us and other teams, so people on the club itself would enjoy but also it would spread the name of the club, which is another goal of ours, to expand our club.”
The club also provides equipment such as balls and racquets for those who may not have any kind of prior exposure to the sport. The club also implemented a $75 fee to help with purchasing equipment and for any matches they join.
“We supply the tennis balls and racquets, while they are not at the level that a competitive racquet would be at, they are great for those who are learning or playing recreationally,” Gield said. “You are also welcome to bring your own racquet if you have your own racquet that you personally like. But if you’re just starting out, we do have stuff you can use. We have a $75 fee that we asked for, which is really to help buy more supplies and to have funds for our matches in the spring. We did lose some people because of the fee, but overall retention was great this year.”
Emma Huerta Cedrone, a sophomore biology major, is a member of the tennis club. She expressed that this club is a good way to remain active and to make new friends. She encourages people to join no matter their skill level.
“It is a way for me to stay active after being busy with all my academics,” Huerta Cedrone said. “It is a little bit of a reset after classes, you meet new friends that you can call up if you want to hit the tennis court in Van Cortlandt and tennis can be a lifelong recreational sport for you. If you are looking for any of these things, this club is the place for you.”
Jani and the club welcomes anyone who wishes to join.
“For anyone that is looking to join the team, they’re more than welcome to join,” Jani said. “Whatever skill range you are, right, we try to be as inclusive as possible. So don’t be scared if you have never held a racquet before. You’ll get taken care of. You’ll be helped right along the way into getting better. And it is fun! It’s like a community that you have, where you meet people who wouldn’t have met otherwise. It’s a good way to make friends, and it’s a good way to get better at the sport, and to just stay active as a whole.”