Resilient. Compassionate. Inspiring. The person you look for in a room of people you know: This is how sophomore Avery Panepinto describes JV tennis player Isley Bonney (’26).
Bonney started playing tennis when she was 5 years old, but stopped playing for several years, due to scheduling conflicts. Bonney joined the JV tennis team as a new Archer student in ninth grade. Bonney is currently a singles player and the only junior on the team. She said she strives to support her teammates and make them feel welcome.
“I remember the seniors from each year that I’ve looked up to and have a sister bond with,” Bonney said. “They [looked] out for me as a family, and I think that’s really important, and that’s why I want to pass that same energy down. … It’s nice to feel like you have somebody to motivate you and cheer you on because everybody wants to feel loved and cared about.”
Considering she had never played a tennis match until joining the JV tennis team at Archer, Bonney said she has grown immensely since the start of her tennis journey.
“I feel like this year is definitely the best year I’ve ever played,” Bonney said. “I was a little naive in ninth grade, 10th grade it was all about being consistent … and now, I think, in 11th grade I have really picked it up.”
JV tennis coach Isaiah Bird started coaching the team this year. He said when Bonney played a scrimmage match against Geffen Academy earlier this year, the game was extremely close in score and tensions within the team were high. Bird said Bonney struck the perfect balance between staying focused and enjoying herself during the match. Bird said he admired her growth mindset and that this moment gave him a positive early impression of Bonney.
“She’s done a really great job with her mental resiliency,” Bird said. “I think her forehand is really strong, and oftentimes she will be able to win points and games with it and make those comebacks because of her strong forehand. … I would say her playing style is patient, but she likes to counter-attack. She waits for the right moment and then [goes] all in for the attack.”
From watching older teammates in past years, Bonney said she better understands how to strategize during matches and build mental fortitude. Panepinto has played alongside Bonney for several years and said she has unique strength, perseverance and kindness.
“She’s such a fun person to be around and to have practice with,” Panepinto said. “She brings great energy to the courts. Also, as we’re walking down to the courts, she’s always starting up conversations with people, and overall just making us all laugh and [feel] very happy, both during matches and practice.”
Panepinto said Bonney is always one to say hello in passing, which uplifts her mood on hard days.
“In the hallway, Isley does this cute little thing where she’ll just go up to you and be like, ‘Hey,’ and she gives you the biggest hug,” Panepinto said. “It makes my day so much better. … She’s just that kind of person that you look for in a crowd of people you don’t know — you just immediately gravitate towards her.”
Bird said his goal is to prepare the JV tennis team, as a whole, for the varsity tennis team through training, scrimmages and matches. Similarly, Bonney said she is working towards making the varsity team next year.When reflecting on what advice she would give to fellow JV tennis players who are starting out, Bonney said to relish every moment.
“Just live in the moment, because it goes by so fast. And especially for me — I didn’t even come in sixth grade. I came in ninth grade, and it doesn’t even feel like it’s been three years — I feel it was just yesterday,” Bonney said. “Enjoy the time while you have it because, sooner or later, you’re going to be an adult and you’re going to be on your own in college and whatnot. … [Also], soaking in the memories that you have because, in a few years, you’ll be looking back at pictures and missing it.”
