Caitlyn Han is an ASU Walter Cronite School of Journalism student assigned to cover McClintock High School for AZPreps365.com.

McClintock High School’s girls’ tennis team has had their best season since 2018. The squad has racked up 10 wins out of 14 games and only has aspirations to continue their victory path all the way to the state tournament.

Getting to the tournament won’t come without its challenges as the team competes in one of the most competitive sections in their division.

Senior captain Sophia Flores credits the team's intense practices as a big part of what sets the Chargers apart from other teams within their section. 

“One of the most important things we do to prepare for our matches since we play such competitive teams is the conditioning because that's what gets us through games. Even if we’re not winning, we’re still doing really well because we outlast other girls with that conditioning,” Flores said. 

The Chargers finished at the fourth seed in the section, but made it a tight race with just two games separating three out of the top four teams.

The Chargers have a very young squad, with the top four players on the team being freshmen and sophomores, but head coach Amy Smith considers that no disadvantage when it comes to taking care of business.

“Really drilling and focusing on fundamentals and making sure everyone knows that no matter how good or how old you are, you still need to be consistent. The younger ones kind of understand that they are the best, but they still have to be good people as well, and they don't get special privileges or wins won’t come easier because they are so good,” Smith said. 

Reverting back to the basics is what helps sophomore Avery Chase get through her difficult matches, as she is in the top position on the team and is always matched up against some of the best in the division.

“When I’m playing singles and I’m having a bad time or messing up a lot, I just try to think of the basics, and if I’m making too many mistakes, I just hit regular shots. I also go back to thinking that I don't need to win; I just need to play the best I can and make sure I’m not giving up for the sake of myself and my teammates,” Chase said. 

With the section the Chargers play in being so fierce, it takes more than just each player holding themselves up, but the trust and reinforcement must come from everyone.

One of the core values Coach Smith preaches to the team is the need for support, and as captain, Flores takes on a lot of responsibility for carrying out that value.

“We know that we’re still part of this collective identity, and we can go out there and know that we are supported by each other. I think making sure we build that support system at practices is one of the most important things for making sure that the girls feel like they’re doing okay in these hard matchups we have,” Flores said.

Not only does the team keep each other motivated, but Coach Smith mentions how they also have help and support from some fellow Chargers.

“The girls are so self-motivated and practice with each other all the time, but they also practice with the boys team a lot, which is really good, because the boys can always hit harder,” Smith said.

The Charger family runs strong at McClintock High School, and the girls tennis team is just a prime example.