The spring semester is underway and so are the sports programs that will take place over the course of this semester. Out of the sports that will be featured, none have been looked at with more promise than the Fresno City College men’s tennis team, that has high hopes going into the season.

Before heading into this season, both the coaching staff and players had to evaluate where they were as a team, as well as see where they can improve in terms of how they did last season. The

Rams finished last season with a with a 9-4 record with a split conference title with Modesto Junior College, getting as far as the first round of the state regionals.

At the helm of the team is head coach Chantel Wiggins. Wiggins has been the head coach of the team for five years where she has racked up three state championships. Wiggins is determined to make this season more successful than last year.

“This year’s squad is a real hard working team that has a lot of talent as we have three returning players,” said Wiggins. “They are the hardest working that I have had and I see them going far in the postseason.”

As hardworking as the team is, it isn’t without its flaws. Each member of the team has their strengths that they bring to the table as well as their weaknesses that they would like to improve on over the course of the season. Some of these problems may be small from a bad serve to a backhand, it is just how the player reacts to it and fixes in time to win a match.

Third year veteran player Avi Singh Bami talks about his strengths and weaknesses and he works on his mistakes.

“I am a momentum player, once I am on a roll, I play really well. It is also my biggest weakness; once I start to struggle, I lose focus and it is hard for me to get it back,” Bami said. “Luckily I have the support of my teammates to get me through those hard points to help me finish the match strong.”

No matter what each player would like to achieve this season as individuals, they all have one common goal of being this year’s state champions. Both the player and coaching staff believe that they have the motivation, talent and determination in order to not just do better than last year but to win it all. Both coaches and players gave their thoughts of what it would mean for them if they won state.

“It would mean a lot as we are shooting for the stars as we are always competing for state, and I take pride knowing that we play to the best of our ability in hopes of getting far into the postseason,” said Wiggins.

“I was a part of the team that won state in 2014 and it was an unreal experience. Everyone was into the game and yelling, all pushing for each other to get that final point. When we did, everyone was filled with happiness for each other. [It was] an experience that I had never felt before and hope I can do that for this team this year,” Bami said.

“This would be a great achievement as it is my first season here and it would be great to tell my friends and family back home in England that I won state,” Kyle Rae said. “ That is the reason I came here from England and worked hard to achieve.”