Republic’s tennis team celebrated Senior Night with a 7-2 victory over Springfield Catholic on Monday, honoring four graduating seniors who have made a lasting impact on the program. Austin Hardcastle, Garrett Carpenter, Micah Crosby, and Cooper Davis were recognized for their contributions to the team during their high school careers, as the Tigers improved their overall record to 6-5.
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Coach David Smashey praised the seniors for their unique personalities and interests, which set them apart from typical tennis players. “They’re unapologetic about who they are,” he said. “They’re all eSports guys, and they’re all computer guys, and they bring this other aesthetic and way of looking at the world.”
Despite their unconventional backgrounds, the seniors have grown into competitive tennis players during their time on the team. “They’ve learned tennis also, and they’ve been really competitive, and they’ve really become good players,” Smashey said, noting their development and contributions to the team’s success.
Smashey also commended the seniors for their positive impact on the other players. “They’re also really generous people, and they’ve affected our team culture in a very positive way,” he said.
The nonconference win against Springfield Catholic serves as a warm-up for Republic’s final conference match against Ozark on Tuesday, as the Tigers look to build on their recent success heading into the final stretch of the season.
Photos by David Brazeal
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