The ASIJ Tennis Team galloped past the finish line of their fall season in style: Varsity Girls dominated, placing first at the Kanto Plain Finals and finishing third in the Jeju Tournament, while Varsity Boys placed second in the Kanto Plain and 3rd at the Jeju Tournament. Furthermore, the Junior Varsity Girls took first place at the JV Kanto Plain Tournament, with Junior Varsity Boys coming in second. Every player across these teams exhibited key ASIJ values throughout the season, embodying sportsmanship and competitiveness to secure their placements in the tournaments. However, these strong results were not the players’ only achievements—many Mustangs also ended the season with lasting memories.

For example, Varsity Member William Wang mentioned going to the Kinoshita Group Japan Open as his favorite memory of the season. He had assumed the bus ride to the event would be uneventful, but endless conversations with his teammates and friends made the time fly by. Upon arrival at Ariake Stadium, he was in awe, watching his favorite players compete not on a television screen, but right in front of him. For a moment, his dream of becoming a professional tennis player was just meters away.

Throughout the season, players also expressed high team spirit every time their teammates took to the court. JV Boys Team Member Kaito Nonaka commented that, because the team was made up entirely of underclassmen, members enjoyed a “casual, low-pressure environment” and were able to foster close-knit ties among team members. Group friendships were formed, and teammates enthusiastically cheered on their teammates throughout every rally. Co-captain Joongi Min proudly explained, “There is nothing that makes me happier than seeing how supportive we are as a team.”

At the Varsity level, Kyoka Matsuki recalled that whenever she felt discouraged after a series of bad shots, the cheers and support from her teammates helped her recover and overcome her frustration, enabling her to emerge victorious as an underdog in competitive matches. The only freshman on the Girls Varsity team, Kyoka defied gender stereotypes when she took down the third-best singles player of St. Mary’s Varsity Tennis Boys at the Jeju tournament. She cites the match as a valuable opportunity that provided her with experience in playing against opponents of different styles, boosting her confidence in high-pressure situations.

For some players, the season also changed their perspectives on the sport as a whole. Before joining the JV Boys team, Freshman Yuki Nakamura frequently played tournaments outside of school, where his nerves caused repeated mistakes and disappointing losses. In contrast, the steady encouragement he received from his teammates during ASIJ matches alleviated his stress, allowing him to compete fearlessly. With each match, his new mindset helped him to clear his mind and overcome his mistakes. Yuki felt that he could not have grown in this way without the camaraderie of his team.

For William, Yuki, and Kyoka, tennis previously seemed a one-person sport. With the backing of their teammates, however, they discovered that shared support and community could carry them further as tennis players than they could have on their own. In all, this year’s tennis season offered far more than amazing victories. Invaluable experiences and memories were created, mindsets were strengthened, and lasting friendships were built.