WCHS Tryouts, Coach B, Tourneys, & More!

Topher Wiles
Aug 27
4 min read

Hello High School tennis friends! We hope you've had a blessed off season. As school is now underway and you are in your routine, we're looking toward high school tennis tryouts.

TRYOUTS - Our plan is for the week of September 15th-19th being our tryout week. As we are shifting into class 1A this cycle in the TSSAA, a smaller division, we will run a Varsity and JV team through the season with roster goal of 10 boys and 10 girls.

Monday, September 15th - 3:30pm-5:00pm - Early Session
Tuesday, September 16th - 5:00pm - 6:30pm - Late Session
Friday, September 19th - 3:30pm-6:30pm - By appointment only as makeup if an athlete can't make Monday & Tuesday.

COACH B - Our blessed snack fairy, cheerleader, special education teacher, and friend, Coach Nancy Benningfield, is transitioning to a teaching job in Hendersonville at the end of September. She'll be missed here in White County tennis even though we know she'll do great things for students in Sumner County! We're thankful for you Coach B!

Coach B says, "I miss tennis more than anything! I have loved those kids and have enjoyed being their snack fairy!"

GRADUATE UPDATES

Marian Swindell - at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, TN
- I just started college last week and I am really enjoying it. My encouragement is to just have fun and enjoy the time with your teammates.
Lilly Colwell - at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama
- Hey Topher! I'm doing great, I just moved to Auburn last week and I am loving it!! Some words of encouragement that I would give to my old team is to enjoy every moment. Thanks for reaching out, I pray this season goes great!
Amber Mercado - relaxing for a bit in a gap year
- Hello! Thank you for the prayers!! For encouragement I would say “Have a blessed tennis season WCHS! I hope you guys get to play a lot of games and that the weather is in your favor. I also hope Dekalb brings their players and doesn’t leave through out the match day! Just joking of course” and I would pray for a healthy team and a positive mentality!” Also hope the team gets a long and no one feels alone! I hope you guys have a wonderful season full of fun!!
Gabriel Wiles - at Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas
- Hey dad! Tell them I'm doing great at Harding! My advice to them would be to honor God and enjoy life, they're at a great time in life surrounded by good people! I guess i would ask for prayers with my chemistry class, I've got a lot of work from it. And here's a picture from Harding's Instagram😂 and me with my Bible professor.
James Frady - at Boot Camp in Fort Sill, Oklahoma
- I'm glad to hear from you, thank you so much for thinking of me. I'm doing great, i have 2 days left until i graduate basic training. Its been a rough journey but knowing i have people who have my back and God by my side i made it. I don't have any pictures where I'm only allowed my phone 30ish min on Sundays but this definitely taught me that no matter how rough things get or how much pain your in you can always make it through. I would like to ask if you can pray for the people in my battery who had a heat stroke on the forge and wont get a family day. I've been praying for them as ik they are having a rough time. Thank you so much i love you all and i cant wait to see you all again!

COACH TOPHER - JAMAICA From September 7th-14th I will fly to the island of Jamaica to teach tennis as the resident pro at the resort in the city of Negril! While there I'm taking my big camera for filming tennis tips with the beautiful resort backdrop. Hopefully these tips will be a ready reference for our players for your success!

TOURNAMENT OFFERINGS (Level 7)

Here's a listing of the upcoming Level 7 tournaments within 100 miles of us. If you dominate a level 7, consider signing up for level 6 tournaments! Level 7 tournaments are the best place to start your journey in playing competitive tournaments. Let me know if you sign up for one, I'd love to try to come watch! I might even be refereeing it as a USTA official. USTA TOURNAMENTS