Wylie High’s distinguished athletic programs span a variety of sports. From volleyball to soccer, the Pirates dominate the district. However, no program has been as dominant as Pirate Tennis, which has won seven consecutive district championships.

“For the last eight years, we’ve been winning districts, so I think we’re doing pretty good,” Carson Branch(10) said.

Of course, the season has just started, but the Pirates’ season has gone off to a great start. “We’ve had a lot of competition, a lot of good matches, a lot of great energy overall around the court about everyone’s game,” Garrett Hermes(10) said

The season doesn’t just start in the school year; many players practice their game outside of school in the summer. “I think I’m better now. I did a lot this summer,” Branch(10) said.

In addition to summer practice, the coaches help the players greatly improve their tennis skills. “They’re great. They help with anything and have pretty much the answer to everything that you’re looking for. If you need advice, you can go to them,” Hermes(10) said.

In the short season so far, the team has been quite enjoyable. “Favorite part of the season so far would be just breaking out, team huddles, all that, making sure everyone feels heard on the court and all that, chanting people on, making sure they’re positive throughout the season,” Hermes(10) said.

Pirate Tennis has many great players, but it seems unanimous that Kushal and Parker are the best. “I think for JV it would be Parker Reese because he is our number one, and he is pretty good at everything he does, and Varsity would have to be Kushal because again, just great at everything,” Hermes(10) said.

Overall, Pirate Tennis is a special program for those in it. “Just the overall atmosphere, how everybody just gets along and cheers for each other during the matches, no matter win or lose. Nobody’s mad at anybody. Just everybody’s great here,” Hermes(10)said.