Over two decades of leading the girls’ tennis team at Middle Township High School, Tracey Hall has never focused on numbers. She’s not the sort of coach who gets caught up in that stuff.
The Wildwood native played on a state title softball team as a high school sophomore for her hometown Warriors. 10 years later her Panther tennis team captured a state crown.
Hall, a Middle Township middle school teacher, earned All CAL recognition in basketball, softball and tennis as a Warrior. She competed in softball and basketball at Albright College before earning her bachelor’s degree in Health and Physical Education while playing tennis at West Chester University.
“I’ve always preferred to focus on the game,” said Hall, a Wildwood High tennis coach for eight years before arriving in Court House. “The game requires concentration mentally and physically. You have to analyze, you can’t just go out and hit the ball.”
The Panthers are 15-2 heading into this Thursday’s pivotal match with Holy Spirit. A victory gives Middle the outright CAL National Conference crown. A loss yields a tie for the top. Hall’s team defeated the Spartans in their first match this season.
Taylor Schad is the talented first singles player for the Orange and Black. The junior is “very strong,” according to Hall.
Jenn Ney completes at second singles. The senior co-captain is “the heart of the team,” said Hall. The coach said Ney, a four-year competitor, helps motivate her teammates and serves as a leader for her peers. “She gets everybody going,” said Hall.
Ashley Ryan, a sophomore, is the third singles’ player. She stepped up from the junior varsity after an off-season of hard work with her father’s guidance. “She’s worked very hard at tennis,” said Hall. “She’s gotten much better and that’s allowed her to jump over doubles.” Ryan is undefeated in the National Conference.
The first doubles combo consists of Darby Crowding and Chelsea Fossett. Crowding is a senior co-captain with four years of experience. Fossett is a junior. The pair is undefeated in National Conference play.
“Doubles is about talking and getting along with your partner,” said Hall, who plays doubles regularly. “You have to talk to each other and figure things out.”
The second doubles tandem is Maddy Ellis and Lauren Novsak. Ellis is just a sophomore while Novsak is a junior.
“Both of them are athletic and tall, which really helps in doubles,” said Hall.
The varsity roster also includes Page Cantz and Gabby Crippen.
“I want the girls to play correctly,” said Hall. “They need to understand what they’re doing. Winning comes from understanding.”
Hall said she loves the sport and hopes to continue playing for as long as she can. She draws inspiration from seeing how much her players enjoy themselves.
“No matter what kind of day I’ve had, when I come to practice or a match and see how much fun these girls have it lifts me up,” said Hall. “They all get along so well and they all laugh a lot. They want to be out there playing and that’s big.”
The coach said she enjoys “seeing the light bulb go on” when her athletes pick up something they’ve been working on.
“My goal,” said Hall, “is to see them do something they couldn’t do before. And if they’ve played well, statistics don’t matter.”
Reach Rossi at joerossi61@comcast.net
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