Meet Manasi Vartak, Soumya Singh, Likhitha Kosanam, and Syna Goyal—class of 2024, 2025, 2026, and 2027, respectively. In this interview, we discuss commitment, connections, and co-captainship.
Soumya Singh (class of 2024), playing her first game of the season against St. Thomas Aquinas High.
[Image Credits: Person McPerson/Eagle Eye]
By Deeya Mulchandani
September 29th, 2023
For anyone who is new to the Academy or generally isn't always caught up with school sports news, the girls' tennis team was formed this year after interest sparked multiple requests over the past few years. All members are playing on a high school team for the first time, and the experience is unique, to say the least. Join a chat with the top four players—coincidentally, a player from each graduating class—and catch up on all things tennis.
How long have each of you been playing tennis? How many hours, approximately, do you play outside of school?
Manasi (1st): I’ve been playing tennis for about seven-and-a-half years. I play everyday, two to three hours when the high school season isn’t on, but during the high school season I go home and play more tennis—so that’s about four hours, give or take.
Syna (2nd): I think I’ve played, like, eight years? Eight years. Outside of school, I play pretty much daily. In the summer, it’s about six hours a day, but during the school year, it’s about two hours a day.
This is the Academy’s first year with a girl’s tennis team. How does it feel finally getting it after so long?
Soumya (4th): I always dreamed of being on a school team at some point, right? I remember last year, a lot of girls worked really hard to try and get a girl’s team this year, because a lot of us were really ready to make that commitment. So I’m really happy to see that happen this year—and working together, it’s been a really good experience.
Manasi (1st): Despite knowing each other for—what, four or five weeks?—we’ve been able to make real connections with each other, and that's what's first and foremost the most important part about being a team.
Soumya & Manasi—you two are the co-captains. What kind of responsibilities does that include?
Soumya (4th): As co-captains, Manasi takes care of a lot of the advice when it comes to the actual technique, she coaches a lot of our players one-on-one, especially when they’re feeling like they need technical improvement. I always try to be more of emotional help, boosting morale, making sure they’re feeling confident—and both of us take the lead when it comes to planning team events.
Manasi (1st): Both of us are taking the initiative to step up and make sure that everyone is doing okay, to voice suggestions on behalf of the team. And I think that being the only upperclassmen on the team, our responsibilities are more than just on the team—beyond the court, we’ve been able to step up. Hopefully, as captains this year, we’ll leave a good legacy.
Tennis is a big time commitment, especially living in Monroe, which is pretty far. Likhitha and Syna, what makes it worth it for you?
Likhitha (3rd): I’ve been playing tennis since I was younger, so since I’ve wanted to be on a team for quite a while, the fact that there’s a team in Edison—even though the drive is about one hour, round trip—is great. I want to compete. I love competing.
Syna (2nd): It's more about the people you get to play, it’s fun, and coming from so far away, you really get more opportunities to play. Being so far away, you don't know as many people. All of my friends are here, and also, all of us have gotten really close as a team, and we all get better. It works.
Tennis is played in singles and doubles games, unlike soccer, which has many players on the field as one unit. Despite this, does the girls’ team feel like a team to you?
Likhitha (3rd): Yeah—even though we play on our own, we all cheer each other on, and we’re pretty united in that way. We still help each other improve and still feel like one team. We’re all really close and hang out a lot, and we really support and love each other.
Soumya (4th): Of course. I think playing separate games—all of us can really relate to the experience of playing one-on-one, it’s a whole different experience. And it really sets us into perspective about how we feel during each game.
What’s one of your proudest accomplishments on the court?
Manasi (1st): I think that I’ve had a lot of great matches recently, but I would say my most proud moment is when I was down 6-0, 4-1 in a match and came back and won. Being able to come back in those moments—I mean, before, I used to be very emotional and get into my head a lot, and I think that’s the most proud I’ve been of me because it shows the mental resilience that comes with time.
Anything you want to add?
Soumya (4th): I just want my team to know that I am so grateful for how we work together so well, and this year has truly been a dream come true. I hope everyone enjoys this enough to come back next year, play, and win!
Syna (2nd): We’re gonna do so good. It’s been fun, you know? This team’s been great.
Manasi (1st): Go Eagles!
Deeya Mulchandani is a monthly writer and website designer for the Eagle Eye. She loves cats, indie rock, and creating important & relevant content for Edison Academy.