Just in time for women’s history month, the Gilbert Tiger Girls Tennis team is making their own mark as women in sports. With a current record of 5-5, the Lady Tigers strike again with another winning match against Maricopa High School. The score? 9-0. Even with a neutral record that they have now, this team has been absolutely phenomenal with the level of intensity and focus that goes into each match. From always keeping your eye on the ball to predicting your opponent’s next move, this team has been focusing to get each skill down to a T.

Yet even with all of the talent, the Lady Tigers know not to get in their heads. Though if they do, that neutral record will become a losing one. Brynlee Cluff, a sophomore on the team, understands the power that comes with staying level headed and working when no one is watching. “I like playing this game because it requires me to have control on the court. I think that it is really important to have a good outlook on things and try your best at all times so that you can focus better,” Cluff said. It’s all in the level of vigorous training for this hard working team.

Like most other sports, tennis is not only about the agility and physicality of the match. Having the right mentality is also an integral part of playing this game. Understanding the balance between the brain and the body is the holy grail of athleticism. There is also an underestimated amount of difficult strategic work that goes with understanding the opponents that this team faces.

While the hard work pays off with the wins, there still appears to be something that the Lady Tigers are missing. It seems that tennis is a sport that is often overlooked and doesn’t seem to get as much attention as others might. This does take a toll on the player’s mindset. Brynlee Cluff also knows how much power an audience can have on an athlete. “I know that tennis isn’t the most popular sport but it would be nice if more people showed up. For me, having an audience gives a good confidence boost depending on how I am already doing in the match,” Cluff said. This is an issue that can be easily solved by the Gilbert High School student body. Every athlete on this team does the work and the wins that are earned are not to be overlooked by any means. Because while winning and trophies are great, appreciation and acknowledgement is sometimes a better reward.



Article by Glory Ruiz Jones

Photo by Andrew Hooper

Winding up for her next serve, this GHS Lady Tiger is putting the important points on the board for her team. Brynlee Cluff celebrates every great moment that her teammates have. “I’ve only been playing since last year but I’ve learned a lot and I love it,” Cluff¹¹ said.