Tennis made its debut as a fall sport this year, a notable change for those used to seeing it played in the spring. While Iowa has long scheduled tennis in the spring, many other states host their seasons in the fall. This year, Iowa chose to coincide with that tradition, bringing new opportunities—and new challenges—to local teams.
A high impact of this transition is the West girls’ tennis team, guided by Coach Brenton Kuchera, who brings more than a decade of experience to the court. The team, which consists of 20 dedicated players, completed an impressive 2,178 games between August 7 and September 11. To gain a deeper understanding of the season’s impact, Janet Toe and Harper Doerder shared their experience.
Toe, a junior with three years of experience on the team, has seen firsthand how the group has steadily improved, regardless of the score. For Toe, the focus this season was on building mental toughness—a quality inspired by her childhood passion for tennis and her admiration for Naomi Osaka’s openness about mental health and resilience. Osaka was most recently seen back on the courts at the US Open and is one of the best-ranked female tennis players in the country. Toe prefers single matches, valuing the emphasis on individual performance and the personal challenge it brings. One of Toe’s biggest aspirations in the sport is improving herself and focusing on her own technique, closing with, “I am most proud of my performance when I play people that are considered better or higher ranked. I don’t let numbers get the best of me; I just go out and play my game. ”
Doerder, a sophomore and the team’s second-ranked Varsity player, echoed many of Toe’s thoughts during the interview. Her main goal this season was to step confidently into the role of Position Two, following in the footsteps of her predecessor. Doerder credits her coach as her role model, “I’d have to say coach. He is amazing and wonderful at tennis. Just annoying when he plays doubles,” she shared. Doerder began tennis lessons at seven, but her earliest memories of the sport go back even further, to age three, when her grandma would hit tennis balls to her again and again. That family support remains her biggest source of motivation. Unlike Toe, Doerder enjoys both singles and doubles, appreciating the distinct challenges each game offers—the independence of singles and the teamwork of doubles.
This season, the team faced the added difficulty of recruiting players, a challenge brought on by the move to fall and competition from other sports, such as cheerleading, swimming, and cross-country. Toe noted that she played tennis year-round, seamlessly moving from spring season to summer practice and now into fall. Looking ahead, both players hope to boost participation and come back even stronger next year.
One of the highlights of following Toe and Doerder has been witnessing their remarkable partnership. As Positions One and Two, they are also doubles partners, and their connection on and off the court is unmistakable. After every good serve or point, they celebrate by tapping rackets, always quick to laugh and exchange compliments. Their close bond not only lifts their spirits but also makes them a powerful dynamic during matches.
The team’s journey through this season of change has been marked by resilience, fellowship, and a consistent commitment to growth—qualities that will serve them well in the seasons ahead.
So, when next August rolls around, would you be willing to give tennis a try?
