Tennis Sign-ups / Tryout Information
To-Do list for boys playing tennis this Fall:
1. Sign up by clicking the button above.
2. Have your Panther Card (required to participate and new this year).
3. Read ALL the tryout information below so you know what to expect.
1. Sign up by clicking the button above.
2. Have your Panther Card (required to participate and new this year).
3. Read ALL the tryout information below so you know what to expect.
Tryout Information
Thank you for choosing to play high school tennis! I'm looking forward to another awesome season. Here is some basic information about high school tennis at West Ottawa:
Thursday, August 10 9-noon
Friday, August 11 9-noon
Monday, August 14 9-noon
Tuesday, August 15 9-noon
Wednesday, August 16 Practice: Time TBD
Thursday, August 17 Practice: Time TBD
Friday, August 18 Practice: Time TBD
2. You need to be signed up, which you do by clicking the button above.
2. Bring your Racket, water bottle, and tennis gear. That's honestly all you need.
1. Your talent - Players who win move up, players who lose move to a lower spot.
2. Your character/competitive spirit - If two players are approximately equal, I will choose the
person who practices with urgency and shows they love to compete.
Things that DON'T matter:
1. What grade you are in - Freshmen...Senior, it doesn't matter. The best players play.
2. What team you played on last year - Last year's varsity players do not automatically keep their
spot. They must prove they are still the best. If you can show over the entirety of tryouts that you
are better, then their spot will become your spot.
Who do I contact if I still have questions: email Coach Schwallier at schwallierp@westottwa.net
- Tennis is a NO-CUT sport. There are no cuts in tennis, even for Seniors. Everyone will be able to participate on a team in some capacity.
- Important Dates - Wednesday, August 10 is the first day of tryouts at the MIDDLE SCHOOL Courts. Here is an overview of the first week and a half:
Thursday, August 10 9-noon
Friday, August 11 9-noon
Monday, August 14 9-noon
Tuesday, August 15 9-noon
Wednesday, August 16 Practice: Time TBD
Thursday, August 17 Practice: Time TBD
Friday, August 18 Practice: Time TBD
- What do I need for tryouts?
2. You need to be signed up, which you do by clicking the button above.
2. Bring your Racket, water bottle, and tennis gear. That's honestly all you need.
- How many players make the Varsity team? Twelve players on varsity play in the starting lineup. I generally take around 14 players on varsity, depending on what I see during tryouts. Challenge match results are the main factor to determine who makes the varsity team, but ultimately the coaches decide which players give us the chance to win the conference and regional title at the end of the season.
- At tryouts, will I be playing doubles or singles? Most likely doubles. The varsity team has four singles players and eight doubles players. JV is predominantly doubles. So for 90% of the players trying out, I'm evaluating you on how good you are at playing doubles.
- What do coaches look at for picking a varsity team?
1. Your talent - Players who win move up, players who lose move to a lower spot.
2. Your character/competitive spirit - If two players are approximately equal, I will choose the
person who practices with urgency and shows they love to compete.
Things that DON'T matter:
1. What grade you are in - Freshmen...Senior, it doesn't matter. The best players play.
2. What team you played on last year - Last year's varsity players do not automatically keep their
spot. They must prove they are still the best. If you can show over the entirety of tryouts that you
are better, then their spot will become your spot.
Who do I contact if I still have questions: email Coach Schwallier at schwallierp@westottwa.net