Cross Court

Marin Greener (she/her)

Editorial Team Member

I always enjoyed playing for the tennis and badminton teams in high school. Whether it was getting out onto the court or spending time with my teammates, these sports stand out among so many high school experiences. Competing as a team player also taught me countless lessons: not only on how to be a good athlete, but also a good person.

When I first started out, I preferred to play singles and rely on myself during matches. So, beginning to play doubles matches with a partner initially felt difficult for me. It would feel tough to communicate, do our doubles rotations, and focus on the game. However, I had many amazing partners throughout high school that proved it can be easy and comfortable to work as a team. When I feel supported by others, it motivates me to do the same for them. My teammates and their support led to a full circle moment my senior year when I was voted as one of the badminton team captains.

I have also gained many instrumental qualities, from drive to hard work, through playing these sports. In the beginning, I often made the mistake of focusing on my score rather than building momentum. After entering this headspace it felt difficult to regain my confidence, especially if I was losing. It was quickly apparent that I was not playing advantageously so I started focusing on my progress rather than the score. This shift to a driven, persevering mindset has helped me not only in sports but everyday life. When my badminton doubles partners and I qualified for the state competition my junior and senior years, dedication also paid off. Additionally, I started playing tennis my sophomore year of high school so I often felt like I had to ‘catch up’ to my teammates. This led to doubt and my mindset started holding me back. Through practice and drive I discovered how to contribute to my team's success, and just how rewarding our teamwork could be.

Looking back, badminton introduced me to playing high school sports and will always hold a special meaning. Tennis, although it came later, was just as important in making my high school sports complete. The skills I’ve learned as a player and person will stay with me through the rest of my life. Most importantly, the teammates who became close friends and the times we spent together truly made my experience memorable.