Abbie Fleeman
Sanika is focusing on the tennis ball, quickly prepping herself at the area match at Highland Park. This photo was taken by Abbie Fleeman.
Sanika Kotekar is a Sophomore in the Varsity Tennis team and wishes to continue playing to satisfy her passion for tennis. She recently assisted the varsity team in winning their game against Lovejoy High School.
1. How long have you been playing tennis, and what inspired you to start?
“I have been playing tennis for about 7 years now, and it has always been a meaningful portion of my life. It started as something insignificant, just as a sport to keep in shape, but over time, I grew to love it. Tennis’ role in my life has continued to grow, ever since I started, and it’s growing still. I couldn’t even begin to imagine what life would be like if I never picked up my racquet for the first time.”
2. What has been the most challenging match you’ve played so far at Walnut Grove, and how did you handle it?
“The most challenging match I have played so far at Walnut Grove was girl’s doubles at districts last year versus Lovejoy. The match was at least 3 hours long, and playing in the scorching heat made it worse. My doubles partner, Vanny, and I knew how important this match was if we wanted to progress further in this tournament, which was the biggest of the year. They were very strong players and worked well together, and I was under a lot of pressure, as every point counted. However, I handled it by only focusing on one point at a time, as it allowed me to put my full effort into each and every point, and not let the score affect me or my game.”
3. Who is your role model that motivates you to push and to be the best version of yourself?
“My role model that always pushes me is my dad. He was the one that wanted me to go into tennis originally, and he is the one that I always look up to. My dad always helps me to be the best version of myself, and he does it by pushing me to practice, watching tennis so he can better understand the game, and so many more little things. He takes me to practice at 6:45 every morning, and never complains. Without him, I would be much less motivated and not nearly as good, and that’s why I will always be grateful for his advice and commitment. “
4. How do you stay motivated during tough matches?
“I play a lot of tough matches, and I have learned a lot from all of them. In a tournament I played outside of school, I played much tougher players and learned a lot. The most important thing that allows me to be motivated during tough matches is remembering to be kind to myself. In the middle of a match, I am bound to make mistakes, and it’s pivotal to accept those mistakes to move on and play the next point better. I just focus on being kind to myself, and just letting the bad shots or plays I am unhappy with go”
5. What’s your favorite memory from playing on the varsity team?
“My favorite memory from playing on the varsity team is the overnight tournament last year. We drove 6 hours and reached our hotel late at night. I was rooming with three of my teammates, and it was so much fun. We slept at the hotel and played the next day, which felt similar to the college tennis experience. We got back to the hotel after the first day of tennis, and we all showered and one of the girls blow dried all of our hair one at a time as we watched Pitch Perfect. It was the best team bonding experience I ever had, and it created a bond with my friends on the team that made us feel like family.”
6. Do you plan to continue playing after high school?
“I definitely will continue playing after high school, but it depends on the level of commitment I have. If I receive a good offer for a college nearby, and it’s a good school, I will definitely consider playing tennis seriously. If I play college tennis, I will get a chance to continue improving as a player, and also continue to be connected to a sport that has been a huge part of my life for so long. At the least, I will try to play as much as possible, depending on the school workload and the other commitments I have.”
7. How much time do you invest into tennis every week, and what do you do in that time?
“On average, I spend about 15 hours a week playing tennis. For school, we typically have morning practice from 6:45 to 8 AM, and after practice, I shower in the lockers and get ready in the WAC. Practice consists of warmup, footwork drills, and a specific focus depending on the day, like serves, doubles, etc. During fourth period varsity tennis, we play again for an hour. I usually spend evenings and weekends brushing up on serves or focusing on drills, which helps me focus on what I think I need to work on individually, not the team’s general practice.”
8. How do you balance your time to accommodate between AP classes and sports?
“It can be difficult to balance AP classes and schoolwork in general with the demands of my sport, but I am glad that I have developed strong time management skills to juggle everything. I usually try to complete my assignments the same day I receive them, which helps me stay ahead and avoid any last minute work. I make sure I finish any remaining work before bed, so it doesn’t cross my mind during the day and I have to scramble to complete it.”
9. What is an accomplishment that you feel that you have achieved athletically or scholarly?
“One accomplishment I feel I have achieved athletically is being the only freshman that made it on varsity last year. It was a very exciting and challenging experience, as it pushed me to work harder, improve my game, and adapt to a different level of competition. I learned a lot from my teammates and made a lot of friends, and it helped me become a better person and friend. Being on varsity helped my on court abilities, and also helped me become a more responsible person.”
10. What’s one lesson you’ve learned from tennis that you apply to other areas of your life?
“One lesson I learned from tennis that I apply to other parts of life is just slowing things down. School can get really stressful sometimes, and tennis makes it harder to complete everything I need to do. Instead of getting worried and anxious, I just remember to take things one step at a time, like I take tennis matches one point at a time. This helps me calm down and set manageable goals.”