Lena Gray, a magnet junior, plays for the NC varsity tennis team (1-0) as the line one singles player. She has played on the team throughout her high school career and remains a dedicated member. Her passion for the sport shines through in each of her games, allowing her to lift the team through her positive attitude and hopefulness. Throughout the season, Gray supports her teammates by meeting them outside of practice hours to work on skills that need extra help. This leadership helps build the strong community that binds the team together. As the season continues, she hopes to create fond memories with her team and advance to the state playoffs so her senior friends participate in their best season yet.
“Lena has such a remarkable passion for tennis. Her dedication to the sport and game of tennis is truly inspiring to everyone on the tennis team; it shines through as she plays. Lena is a talented tennis player, as well as a role model to many,” magnet senior teammate Livie Duby said.
As a singles player, Gray plays by herself on a court; however, a viewer needs to understand the dynamics that determine the scoring of the game. The inside of the tennis court and the outside of the court showcase different colors that determine which player gains a point. The color on the inside of the court counts as in and the outside of the court counts as out. For scoring, each player needs to gain four points to win a game. They start at 0-0, called love-love, and then the points accumulate afterward to fifteen, thirty and forty. Each of those names stands for one singular point won. Whoever wins after forty gains a game. In a high school varsity tennis match, the players need to win twelve games, split into two sets of six, to win the match.
“Lena’s drive for tennis is a match for her compassionate, fierce and hardworking nature. Her compassion shines through in every match, where she encourages teammates, supports others and strives to make a positive impact both on and off the court. Fierce determination fuels her competitive spirit, pushing her to challenge her limits and overcome obstacles. Beneath it all, Lena’s work ethic sets her apart, as she dedicates countless hours to perfecting her game and growing stronger,” freshman teammate Addison O’Neal said.
Gray started her tennis journey at the young age of six. While she did not take the game seriously at first, she now plays to win. For the first years of her career, she played to connect with friends and expand out of her original friend group. This new opportunity to socialize allowed her to form friendships that still stand strong today. As she advanced, she moved to new tennis facilities to practice such as Hot Shotz Tennis located at the Howell Farms tennis courts. Through her journey, she found her passion for tennis and realized that she wanted to advance her tennis skills.
“Lena is one of the strongest people I’ve ever met on the court both physically and mentally. The passion she has for the game is truly inspiring and infectious. She’s quick to learn and will execute exactly what her coach wants,” junior Hailey Walters said.
Moving forward, Gray hopes to attend college for her tennis career. At her current level, she plans to play for a Division Three (D3) college. Oglethorpe University, one of the colleges she plans to look at for a tennis scholarship, offers exactly what Gray desires for her future. Before touring, Gray plans to contact the tennis director, Francis Ali, to arrange a meeting for her to come to Kennesaw to watch her play.
“I love tennis and it’s been my passion for a long time. The sport brings me peace and helps me get through personal issues when times get hard. I want to continue the sport until I can’t play anymore and I hope I can continue in college with a scholarship,” Gray said.
The Chant wishes Gray good luck in her third season at NC and her future ahead.
