Alex Hirsch's Third NCAA Tennis Diary Entry
5/11/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Tennis
May 11, 2006
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The past five days of practice have gone by really fast and we're finally in Chapel Hill. After a fantastic team dinner at Mellow Mushroom in Winston-Salem, we drove to UNC this evening. We spent almost the entire ride playing "Catch Phrase," a game where you have to describe a specific word to your team until they guess the exact word. If you're left with the game in your hands when the buzzer goes off, you lose. It became very entertaining, especially with Chad trying to join in the game from the driver's seat. The game made the drive go by so quickly!
This past week we've had really great practices, and I'm really happy with how the whole team is playing right now. This morning, I had an individual with Chad and I beat him twice in "the drill," his favorite game which he claims never to lose. He seemed to have every excuse for losing, including accusing me of cheating and claiming he was simply boosting my confidence level before we left for NCAA's. He even went as far as to say that my Dad paid him to let me win! And I thought I hated losing! Maybe I'll give him a rematch next week...
Practices aside, we also had a tennis banquet with our team, the men's tennis team, and many others who have supported us this year and have helped us through the season. Without these people, it would be impossible for us to be as successful as we have been. I would like to give special thanks to: P-Dawg (Adam Pecina), who has not only helped the whole team stay healthy, but who is always there for us from the smallest little injuries like cuts and bruises to big issues like rehabbing my elbow after Tommy John surgery; Elizabeth Miller, our academic advisor, who has somehow managed to keep all of us academically eligible; Big Dave (Dave Bass), who has kept us strong and fit, and who has managed to make me aware of muscles that I didn't even know existed. I thank them, and everyone in the athletic department who has supported this team, for putting up with me on a regular basis and helping us to be successful.
Normally, this end-of-year tennis banquet is a time for our coaches to reflect on the season and for us to recognize our seniors. Although we don't have any seniors this year, the men's team will be saying goodbye to 3 seniors after NCAA's. Brett Ross, Liron Strauss, and Joe Bates will be moving on from Wake Forest and I wish them all the best of luck as they start the next stage of their lives.
But for both teams, the season is not yet over! We are practicing at UNC tomorrow morning, and the anticipation of Friday's match against the Gamecocks continues to grow. The men are headed to UVA and I wish them good luck as well. GO DEACS!
