This season, the boys tennis team will experiment with a rise of team divisions. Team divisions help accurately divide teams based on size, so that each team gets an equal chance at playing. Right now there are only two divisions for tennis. The increase to three will try and equalize team sizes and their placements, helping smaller teams compete without being run over by larger teams. This makes for a better environment for prospective players who have little to no experience, and do not have the support of a large coaching staff.
The increase in tennis divisions may cause smaller schools to create teams, who may have been too small, or felt too intimidated by larger schools to compete. This allows more who want to play the sport to participate without transferring schools even though changes are still unknown.
“We don’t know how sections will realign yet,” head tennis coach Dave Kahl said.
An increase of divisions, however, does not appear to have any affect on boys tennis team itself. With nearly 50 registered players, Stillwater is one of the largest in the class AA division, posing a challenge to many opponents who do not have nearly enough players and end up losing horribly due to team size, and not actual player talent.
Captain Ben Most said their approach will remain the same when asked about how the captains plan to manage the team with more divisions.
The team tries to balance the court so players can compete while still maintaining a positive, fun atmosphere, tennis itself is not a competitive sport in the first place. By increasing division class numbers from two to three, the atmosphere will most likely remain positive, with fewer players worrying about whether they get to play or not.
Junior Carter Ruchie, said the change in divisions makes the team feel like “athletes rather than just people.”
Even with more divisions, the Suburban East conference is set for the amount of teams, as most of the conference is suburbanized. However the increase of division still affects schools as close as Mahtomedi. which averages a smaller player base.
“Girls tennis is already pretty maxed out, but boys, it’ll be interesting to see,” Kahl said.
With an increase of divisions, the coaches look to the future the tennis team is sure to show other teams that join the division that they take the sport seriously, simultaneously, the coaches aim to establish an environment to accept any teams that wish to compete.
