The 2024 girls’ tennis team season is complete. The girls finished their season in a tiebreaker in the semi-finals to Cape Central: four to five. Both Coach Canter and Macie Coleman came late to their tennis careers and they have excelled.

“The season has gone alright so far,” said Head Tennis Coach Andrew Canter. “We have eight wins and four losses. We finished second in the Farmington Invitational and 3rd in the MAAA Conference. We are seeded second in the Class two, District One Tournament.”

Macie Coleman is a Junior on the tennis team. She started playing tennis her freshman year after her older brother encouraged her to start playing. She is currently ranked 4th on the team. She plays singles and doubles on Varsity. Macie’s single record is eight-three.

“Before the season starts we have two weeks of practice and then, in season, we have a couple of practices here and there. I try to practice at least three days a week in the off-season,” Macie said.

Coach Canter did not start off as a tennis player in high school.

“I became the FHS Boys Tennis Coach in the spring of 2007 when the previous coach resigned roughly two weeks prior to the start of the season,” said Coach Canter. “The athletic director emailed all the teachers in the district asking if anyone wanted to be coach and I replied with yes. He told me to go to the Board Building and sign my new contract because I was the new tennis coach.”

Coach Canter’s philosophy is “to have an environment that yields sportsmanship, character, and athletic development,” he mentioned, “My job as a coach is to see that the program that I lead accomplishes these things.”

Macie’s favorite player is Jelena Ostepenko.

“I admire that she always has good sportsmanship and isn’t afraid to speak her mind.”

Ostepenko also plays singles and doubles just like Macie. She is ranked sixth in the world.

Coach Canter looks for a few traits in his players.

“Athleticism is very important,” Canter said “I love having players who play other sports, especially soccer. The footwork that the players learn from soccer transfer over to tennis quite easily. I also love players who put tennis first and who want to get better as quickly as they can. Lastly, I look for players who want to be leaders and opposed to followers. Followers are fine as long as there is someone taking that leadership role.”

Coach Canter’s advice for a beginner player is “get private lessons,”.

“The private lessons are where the player really sees the results. Also, I’d let the beginning player know that tennis is hard and that they need to remain patient in learning their new skills.”

Macie plans to continue playing tennis after High School.

“I couldn’t imagine not playing tennis, it is my favorite way to work out and to stay active” Coleman Said.

Farmington finished the season with a record of ten wins and five losses. Boys tennis will start in early spring.