By Josh Wagner
The Hood College men’s tennis team is competing in what will be its final season, as the college plans to discontinue the program after the 2024-25 academic year.
Head coach Phillip Harvin stepped up to take over both the men’s and women’s programs for the program’s last year.
“I’m saddened by the decision to remove tennis, but I understand given where the program was,” said Harvin, who is in his first coaching role with the Blazers.
“The reason I took the position is because I do have a love and passion for tennis,” Harvin said. “I grew up playing tennis. So for me, any loss of tennis always hits me. I think people who will miss it are people who were a part of it. “
Both the men’s team and the women’s team continue to participate in non-conference and Middle Atlantic Conference matches.
On March 29, the men’s tennis team opened up its second conference match against Albright College. Albright College earned a 7-0 win.
The men’s tennis team is winless this year, currently sitting at 0-6 on the year. The Blazers are still striving for their first win in the last three years.
The Blazers have faced some challenges this year in putting out full lineups due to the depth of players. One of Harvin’s goals as the season progresses is to put out full lineups.
“The more of a full lineup we can put out, the better,” Harvin said. “That’s the goal we want. We like to put out full lineups and let the kids play. Hopefully, give them some fun memories to take with them as the program departs.”
The men’s team currently has five players.
As of press time, the Blazers have four matches left in the year and will look to finish their last season ever on a high note.
“The reality is that we don’t have recruits that come here to play tennis,” Harvin said. “We have some good players, but half of our guys are coming from other sports and they are going to be facing people from other colleges that are there to be a student but also a tennis player. Facing that is really tough.”
One of the key players for the Blazers this season is junior Tyler James.
“He’s so solid. There is nothing he can’t do on a tennis court,” Harvin said. “His ground strokes are rock solid. He makes amazing decisions. He’s pretty consistent. I hope he continues to play some tennis somewhere. I wish him the best. His tennis game needs to be progressed and continued hopefully. His game is good, and it should continue.”
James is in his third season with the Blazers and expresses his goals for the rest of the season as it continues.
“I obviously want to win as many matches as possible,” James said, “but my goal has been to just further my relationship with my teammates the best I can and to cherish these moments since it will be the last season I ever play with a school team.”
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