Hard work, determination, perseverance, communication, and most importantly, teamwork — these are the
qualities that make up a successful team. Hoover’s girls tennis embodies all of these qualities and more.
And they are #1.
This is no small feat to achieve, and the team is overjoyed to be able to experience this. The girls tennis team is always at the top of their game, but this season, the girls have pulled out all the stops and have executed an amazing, undefeated record of 23-0. Even against their rivals, the girls crushed the Polar Bears 4-1. Led by Coach Ryan Shaffer, the girls have had an amazing season as they go into the post-season tournament.
In order to be the best, one has to beat the best. This is what Hoover girls tennis have done in their season.
“I think the team has been so successful because of all the tough competition we saw early on in the season,” senior Lindsay Crawford said. “Our team has been able to see and beat teams from all over the state before we even go into post season matches, so I believe that these opportunities have really helped us develop and grow as a team.”
Another reason why the girls have been so successful this season could be attributed to their hard work out of season. Many of the girls are working around the clock to improve their skills.
“Our team is different from other teams around here because our season never really ends,” Crawford said. “We drill in the summer, winter, and spring and practice with the boys team as well as top players from neighboring districts. All year round, we continue to play which definitely sets us apart from other teams.”
Senior Tess Bucher is a huge contributor to the team and also practices individually out of season to make her the best she can possibly be.
“I put in countless hours during the week on the practice court,” she said. “I traveled all over the country for the biggest tournaments in order to play the best competition.”
Bucher has had an impressive season as well as an individual. Despite all of her success as a player, she is still staying focused on the team and pushing them to be the best they can be.
“It’s a great feeling to be ranked #1,” Bucher said. “I am focused on winning the state title for myself and also as a team.” She won the OHSAA Girls Tennis Division I Singles State Championship Oct. 20 at the Aspen Racquet Club in Wooster.
It’s obvious that the team is just that, a team. They are always there for each other and the girls have made many meaningful friendships that have brought them closer and made them a well-oiled machine.
“I think I will miss getting to play with some of my best friends that I have been playing with since I was young,” Bucher, who will play tennis at the University of Kentucky next fall, said. “I also love playing for my school and getting to represent North Canton.”
Crawford also feels like the girls she has played with have had a significant impact on her life and have changed her as a person.
“What I’ll miss most about playing for Hoover is definitely my teammates,” she said. “Some of us have been playing together since middle school, so we’ve all grown pretty close.”
Hoover Athletic Director Mr. Tom Oakes spoke about the team’s collective and individual successes.
“Each student-athlete has their own personality on the court, and as a group they strive to be the best team they can become,” he said. “Each teammate cheers on one another — which is why this is such a special group of young ladies to watch compete and enjoy the special moments they create as a group.”
While being a student-athlete isn’t an easy thing, with long practice hours, away games, and a grueling school and homework schedule, the girls have all handled their work load in stride and made it look easy while doing it.
“Each individual on the team represents what a student-athlete truly is … a student first,” Oakes said. “What I am most proud of is how they manage their time to improve their tennis play, but also keep up with their academics, especially with the amount of travel they have during the season to play the most competitive schedule in the state.”
Sports can change lives. They can impact communities and bring people together. Hoover girls tennis is a shining example of this in action.
“This program has had a positive impact on our school and community for many years — and these young ladies have continued this tradition moving forward for future years to continue to uphold,” Oakes said.
In addition, Shaffer has just become the highest all-time win leader in the State of Ohio. He recently took his 1039th win on Sept. 18. Shaffer had to work very hard to obtain his goal just like how his team works very hard to obtain theirs.
“I’ve had a guardian watching me,” Shaff er told The Repository in October. “It’s a tribute to a lot of great kids who were not necessarily the best players, but bought into the program and did everything they could to be successful.”
One would think that someone who became the highest all-time win leader in the state would have always wanted to be a coach, but that’s not what happened with Shaffer. While being a coach wasn’t the first thing on Shaff er’s list of things to be, he ultimately decided it’s what he wanted to do.
“I initially coached football, basketball, and baseball,” Shaffer said. “In the late 70s, I became an avid player and fell in love with the physical and mental challenges the sport presented.”
Shaffer has enjoyed his coaching here at Hoover so far and some of his favorite parts of the job are being able to watch the team grow as people and as players.
“How hard my girls have worked and seeing them have the tremendous success they experienced as a result,” he said. Naturally, since coaching has become Shaffer’s passion, he has an influence on all of the players that have had the honor of playing for him. This influence has pushed the team to be better and strive for their best. Crawford discusses how she feels he has helped the team.
“When playing for Ryan Shaff er, you learn many things, from time management skills to history lessons. You learn competitiveness and a drive to strive to do your best, but above all, you learn what it actually means to be a part of something greater than yourself. Coach Shaff er always tells us that he’s not only trying to teach us tennis, but also life lessons, and I am so thankful to have had that opportunity.”
