Sweet Taste Of Victory

When I was a sophmore in high school, I joined the men junior varsity tennis team. I joined because I assumed that it would have looked better in a college application to have a sport as one of my activities. I have been told that it would add to your entrance evaluation points and I have a feeling that I would need every point I can get my hands on. I was not really a sporty type of a person, so I joined the one of the few sports I knew. I owned a tennis racket and other needed equipment because my Dad and I used to play on the weekends.

I knew I was out of shape so I tried to workout during the off season hoping to slim down and build up endurance. I had this crazy idea of working out with the school football team to build up my muscles. I hit the weights and even did exercises with the football team. I liked the workout so much that I have even thought I might go out for the football team. That fantasy came to a halt after I was clobbered flat on my back on a scrimmage line play by one of the players. I guess, football was not my game, but I finished the summer training.

I was glad that I took time to train that summer because all we did for a couple of weeks were run and exercised. I don't think I ran up and down so many stairs, before or since tennis opening week. If I was in a worse shape, I might not have made the tennis team, heck, I might not have survived the opening week. The team was wonderful and I was surprised that the coach was a real great guy. They really gave me a lot of support even if I was the worse player in the tennis team.

I played doubles and singles. My partner and I always came close to winning, but we never won a match. When my coach made my partner played singles did he finally won a few games. I, on the other hand, was still on a losing streak. I tried to work harder, chase after all the balls, and even dive after them. I only improved in winning a few sets, but I never won a game. I thought I would close the season with a skunk, a losing record.

It was the last game of the season. My coach knew that I was really bummed out because I never won a game yet. Everyone was very supportive, but nothing they do really get me off the track to loser ville. My coach had me scheduled for a singles match with a girl player on the other team. We were playing pretty even at the start of the game, but I noticed that I was winning more sets as the game progressed. When we played the game ball of last set, I was ahead, I was so nervous, I was afraid I would missed the ball while serving. When she returned it and it hit the net, I yelled out so loud and pumped my arms in victory. When my coach found out I won a game, he congratulated me, smiled and gave a heart felt celebration. The whole team celebrated also when they found out I won my match. The albatross that was hanging on my neck was finally removed and I celebrated. There was no other feeling like it in the world. The sweett taste of victory.