Credit to Kiley Wallace

Junior Caleb Couch prepares for a underhanded swing while playing against Liberty on April 1.

This year, two brave juniors on the FHN tennis team pushed themselves to reach a spot they had never reached before. In the sport, rankings determine your position. Once they enter the top six, not only do their matches count toward the team’s record, but they also participate in districts, more tournaments and get more playing time altogether.

This has not been an easy adjustment for either of the juniors. Taking a higher place on the team was a test for these players almost immediately.  

“This year feels a lot different because last year I was eighth,” Brayden Prouhet, one of the juniors who made this switch, said. “The difference between eight and six is so big, even though it’s just two numbers. There’s so much more work you have to put in.”

Caleb Couch, the other junior who made this change, also spoke about being top six.

“Being top six has changed my playstyle a lot,” Couch said. “There’s definitely a lot more competition than last year.” 

These players didn’t just glide into these positions. The path the juniors took was rough and required a great deal of dedication.

“The amount of practice hours it took was really long,” Couch said. “The money spent on tournaments and clinics were also part of the struggle.”

Injuries also slowed their ascent to this place on the team.

“During the offseason last year, I had an ankle injury that took me out for about three months,” Prouhet said. “I had to take a break because I just couldn’t get back in rhythm.”

But, all in all, their dedication to the sport allowed them to push through and make it to where these two are today, third and sixth, despite only being juniors. 

“When you love a sport, it makes it easier to put the time in,” Couch said. “I love seeing my progress and watching my team win. That alone motivates