The Wilsonville boys’ tennis team kicked-off their season with a preseason match against Tualatin, a 6A school.

Although the match didn’t count for their league record, Coach Anna Raschko stressed the importance of keeping energy high, as if we were playing our hardest competition. She emphasized the “next point” mentality, meaning to move on, instead of digging a hole of anger and frustration.

This season marks a major shift for the team. Last year’s varsity roster consisted almost entirely of seniors, but with those players having graduated, the lineup has undergone a massive change. Many of the JV players stepped up, and a couple of new freshmen recruits joined as well.

With this large change, many players started to worry about the state of the team. The team felt some uncertainty heading into the match. With so many new players and not much practice (due to the cancellation of practices because of weather), they were unsure of how they would measure up against their opponent, let alone a 6A school.

Once the matches started, the Cats quickly found their rhythm. Wilsonville dominated the courts with a commanding 7-1 victory over Tualatin, showing that their team chemistry and communication had developed faster than expected. While the win was great for the Cats’ morale, it also reassured the team that the new roster has potential.

Their win sparked a surge of confidence among players, shoving aside early-season doubts about the team. While their team is far from perfect in terms of their game, their match served as an important reminder that devotion and hustle go a long way. With this newly established momentum, Wilsonville is ready to continue taking on every opponent one match at a time.

In the attached video, senior Jack Jensen tags along with the team and gets perspectives from players.