By Abby Condon, Staff Writer
The three seniors on the men’s and women’s tennis teams were looking to have a stellar spring season challenging their opponents when they lost their seasons to an unbeatable opponent—the coronavirus.
The lone men’s tennis team member from the Class of 2020 is senior captain Taylor Swim, an economics and finance major from Phillipsburg, New Jersey.
“I think I speak for both myself as well as the rest of the team, this all came as a bit of a shock,” said Swim.
He said that while losing the season was sad, he is happy to have memories to look back on.
“We had a really great fall season in terms of building up the team with the new freshmen members so I think to look at things from a more positive angle, I’m glad we had those memories to look back on.”
Swim said his overall Susquehanna University experience was a memorable one, from gaining new experiences as the lone freshman in the fall of 2016 to helping underclassmen grow and develop during his time on the team.
“Getting the chance to play tennis at Susquehanna has meant the world to me and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything,” said Swim.
He also offered advice for the underclassmen still on the team.
“Stay true to your core values and mindset while also working to grow and develop areas that originally might be outside your comfort zone.”
The Susquehanna women’s tennis team had two seniors who also saw their collegiate careers end abruptly. River Hawk Isabella Ferrari is a Digital Multimedia and Broadcasting major hailing from Kinnelon, New Jersey.
“Although it is unfortunate that my final season came to an abrupt end, I could not have asked for a better group of women to share my four years with playing the game we all love at Susquehanna University. Those memories will live on forever,” Ferrari said.
Ferrari also reflected on her freshman year of play.
“It was fun, intense, dynamic and filled with so many curveballs. Nevertheless, we overcame any obstacles as a team, and I was so lucky to be a part of that experience.”
Amy Jennings, from Canandaigua, New York, majors in biomedical sciences and is also a senior on the women’s team. She said she was upset when she heard the news that the season had been cancelled.
“Tennis has always been a large part of my life, and I certainly wasn’t prepared for it to end this way,” Jennings said.
She also offered advice to underclassmen athletes who will return to action next year. “Have fun on the court. It’s why we started in the first place. Also, I would advise them not to take their time on the team for granted. Four years goes by a lot quicker than it seems, so it’s imperative to make the most out of every moment on the court.”
Many friendships and memories have been made between these three tennis players and their respective teams as they begin their transition to life beyond Susquehanna University.
They all echo the same sentiment, said here by Jennings:
“I have made so many unforgettable friendships and memories and I’m thankful for all of the experiences in the last four years.”