Girls' tennis still optimistic after upsetting preseason and Poon's resignation

Despite six year coach Wilston Poon's resignation and a difficult preseason, the girls' tennis team has high hopes for league matches.After graduating from Samo in 2009, Patrick Massey became Poon’s assistant coach. After Poon's resignation, Massey became head coach. He currently attends Santa Monica College.“It has been a little difficult without Poon in the sense that the team was similar to a family,” Massey said. “All the girls loved the way the team was run and most of all respected what both Poon and myself were accomplishing with the tennis program. He and I remain close as he is a very good friend of mine and taught me most of the things I know about this job.”According to sophomore Chloe Wight, Poon’s absence has not affected the team’s playing.“Going into matches we're very focused on our goals of winning and making coach Massey and coach Poon proud, if [Poon] were still here,” Wight said.As the tennis team finishes off its pre-season, with losses to Mira Costa and Malibu and a victory over El Segundo, senior co-captain Annie Wiesenfeld is not particularly upset about the pre-season games.Samo beat El Segundo with a score of 11-7 on Sept. 13, lost to Mira Costa with a score of 15-3 on Sept 19, and also lost to Malibu with a score of 15-3 on Sept. 4.“The first two [teams] we played, Mira Costa and Malibu, were without a doubt stronger teams just in general. They had exceptional players, really strong coaches and have been great teams for as long as we've been playing,” Wiesenfeld said.The tennis team has been working very hard during practice to have a very successful league season according to Wiesenfeld.“In practice we're really just focusing on getting 'match tough,' that is working on our mental game and playing one another so that we can succeed in real matches and practice what tournaments will be like,” Wiesenfeld said.Junior Christine Maddox, however, is upset about the preseason. But, she knows the team is motivated to do its best and use practice time to the fullest to make their league season one of the best.“The team has been working hard and practicing and is ready for league matches. If we stay healthy and injury free we should do well in our league season,” Maddox said.Wight feels very confident that going into their league season the team is more prepared, despite the difficult pre-season.“Of course losing isn't what we want, but in light of what is going on I think we are doing well. Going into league matches we are not going to focus on the losses, but instead on what they taught us,” Wight said. “Every match, win or lose, teaches the team valuable lessons that are important in doing well in the next match.”ewergeles@thesamohi.com