The Bear Tennis Team is looking to be successful this season, despite having what is considered to be a young team. According to head coach T.J. Reed, the team has already competed in two tournaments this year, the Ozen Invitational and The Nederland/PNG Tournament.

“I was not the coach last season, but I was pleased with the potential I see in Luke Mayeux, Navjot Singh, Logan Brown, and Justice Peveto, all of whom played for the Bears last season,” Reed said.

Senior Navjot Singh advanced the furthest in the Ozen tournament, and Junior Chris Schilz defeated his biggest opponent in his first round and played a very close match with the tournament champion.

“It is a privilege to get to help Coach Friend out with our girls as well,” Reed said.  “We all support one another at practices and tournaments and our boys and girls are a lot of fun to be around.”

In order to prepare for tournaments, the team practices Monday through Thursday after school and some of the players devote time outside of their scheduled practices to improve their skills.

“Being that we have a very young team, every tournament is vital to our development as tennis players,” Reed said. “We are getting better every time we step onto the courts.”

Even though this is Reed’s first year to coach tennis, he said that he has enjoyed playing tennis since he was in high school.

“I love that I get to teach kids a game that they can truly carry with them throughout their lives,” Reed said. “Tennis is a sport similar to golf, where both men and women can play and even compete in leagues for their entire life.”