The crowd does the familiar back and forth movement as the tennis opponents battle back and forth on the court. Senior Malcolm Davis is one of the competitors in the match and remains focused, never taking his eyes off the ball. It flies over the net and Davis is on it quickly, immediately sending it right back at his opponent. 

Davis has been playing tennis for seven years and is in his 4th year on the varsity team. He believes that there is always something to improve on. 

“The way that you progress in tennis, there is always something you can do better, I think it’s fun just finding something to perfect,” Davis said. 

Davis has also been a part of the choir program and the theater program as well. His plans after high school are to attend the University of Central Missouri to study music technology and production. Junior Brady Darr Feels that Davis is a great role model. 

“His leadership and his ability to bring people up when they’re down is just a really great asset to the team,” Darr said. 

To get into the game day mindset Davis enjoys spending time on the bus with friends and listening to music to get him pumped up. Junior Alejandro Castillo feels that him and Davis have a good connection

“I’ve known him since 7th grade,” Castillo said. “Knowing him the longest on the team and being involved with more than just tennis together, I feel that I’m able to work really well with him.”

His last piece of advice to young players just starting out is to keep going, everyone starts somewhere. Even if they think they are doing bad, keep going and keep pushing. Davis thinks that this sport has brought him a lot of great people.

“Just being able to find a group of really good friends that are all in one place,” Davis said. 

The ball goes back over the net and Davis wins the point. He walks to the backcourt to prepare to serve. He takes a deep breath, tosses the ball in the air and delivers the serve. And the crowd continues the back and forth observation of the match.