With 40 students trying out, 22 positions and only two courts to practice, the Athletics Department made cuts to the middle school tennis team for the first time ever. At the end of tryouts, two teams were created: the Purple Team and the Green Team.

The captains of the Purple Team are Delara Tehranchi and Rose Sarner, while the captains of the Green Team are Zoe Woolenberg and Noor Afshar. The Oracle sat down with the captains to discuss their goals for the season and the teams.

What initially drew you to tennis?

Zoe Woolenberg [ZW]: I really love playing after school. I think it’s a great outlet to just play and be free and be myself and exert a lot of energy.

Rose Sarner [RS]: My parents and whole family, basically, have been playing tennis for a while now, and I started taking lessons when I was younger. I really liked how it’s a team sport and although you play singles, you’re also working with the team.

What do you love about playing tennis?

Delara Tehranchi [DT]: I just love being able to play on a team. I feel like being able to play individuals is really fun, but also just knowing that you’re benefiting a larger group of people is really fun. I also love the bonding experience. Especially at Archer, we’ve grown a big connection in the Archer tennis team.

Noor Afshar [NA]: I’ve been playing tennis for a long time — since I was two years old. My whole family is a big tennis-playing family, and so I loved to go play with my family on the weekends and after school, and I grew a relationship with tennis really fast. I love how it’s a team and you’re not always just playing by yourself. There’s always going to be people there for you. 

How did you feel when you learned you would be a captain?

[DT]: I was really, really excited. I was a captain last year too, and it’s a role that is really special to me because I never really had this opportunity to have this kind of position and be a leader in this way. I get to bring the team closer and it’s just a really fun experience.

[ZW]: It gives me the chance to be a leader and bring smiles towards the other girls’ faces and just really give a positive attitude towards the community during the matches and really cheer everyone on and be supportive.

What are your goals for the team this year?

[RS]: My goals are as captain to bring the team closer together and really use it as an outlet. If you have any trouble or any questions, it’s a safe place, so you can go to your team.

[NA]: As a captain, I genuinely want the team to be closer together, and I want everyone to have a nice, kind and fun environment. We also want to come in first and win the games and really show the other teams that we know what we’re doing.