The courts at South Eugene High School are alive with more than just the sound of yellow felt hitting strings this week. As the Axe girls’ tennis team kicks off tryouts, the atmosphere is defined by a surge in participation and a palpable sense of renewed energy.
For senior Nina Vivek, the sheer volume of athletes is the first thing she noticed.
“I’m pretty excited,” Vivek shared. “There are more people who are genuinely excited than in past years.”
Despite the loss of several strong seniors from the previous season, Vivek is confident that the depth of the roster will carry them through.
“We have a lot of returning players. I’m looking forward to good times and amazing memories.”
That balance of fresh faces and veteran leadership is a recurring theme. Team captain and senior Ellie Cho noted that while the graduation of last year’s power players left a void, the current squad is filling it with sheer willpower. Despite their best players graduating, Cho remains optimistic about the future of the team.
“Last year we lost a bunch of strong seniors, but this year the players are very motivated,” Cho said.
The “vibe” on the court seems to be the team’s greatest asset. Freshman Lara Faraghi Ahrabhi described a welcoming environment with “a lot of good people,” while sophomore Sienna Fyffe praised the culture for being “very sweet and fun” without the suffocating pressure of over-competitiveness.
“We’re even better [than last year],” Fyffe said.
As for the age-old rivalry between the girls’ and boys’ programs, the Axe girls aren’t backing down. While sophomore Braelynn Lord offered a humble “probably not” regarding a cross-team matchup, others are ready for the challenge.
Faraghi Ahrabhi feels she could take on some of the boys, and Cho believes the two teams are “definitely evenly matched.” Fyffe took it a step further, declaring the girls’ squad “GOATed” and ready to win that battle any day.
The message to the South Eugene community is unanimous: Come to the courts. Whether it’s Lord and Faraghi Ahrabhi encouraging students to try out, or Fyffe’s playful plea to “watch us, not the boys,” the Axe are ready to prove they are the main attraction this spring.
As Vivek put it: “Just come to our games.”
Article by Saksham Sinha