Just A Game, Tennis player Sean Williams prioritizes fun in stressful sport

By Megan Hutchinson

Sometimes having fun is the most important thing in a competitive sport, and senior Sean Williams is proof. Williams has been on Sandy High School Varsity Tennis since his freshman year, and he is currently the number one singles player at SHS. In his time playing, he’s learned to prioritize enjoying himself amidst the stressful game environment. 

“I guess freshman to junior year, I kind of saw it more as a job,” Williams said. Though he admits he performed well those years, it “just wasn’t anything fun.” This season, Williams has realized it is advantageous to view tennis as a hobby. In tennis, it is important to not tense up, as players must remain loose and smooth during a game to improve their game play. As Williams has learned to relax both before and during games, his play has improved.

“I usually just talk with my friends and have fun – kind of find a reason to play,” Williams said regarding his pre-game ritual. “So I find fun, you know, laughing with friends beforehand.”

Williams participated in swimming during his senior winter sport season, and he actively works on bodybuilding. Rotating between the tight muscles necessary for lifting weights and, contrastingly, the smooth movements required for tennis proves to be a struggle, but Williams notes that relaxing during a game can help to perfect the latter. In addition to improving his muscle movements, Williams has worked to improve his strategy, especially in his senior season.

This season, Williams has tried to “play a different way, and it was interesting for me because I played at a slower pace, but I did really well,” Williams said. One of the first games Williams attempted his new style in was against Nelson, and “I beat Nelson pretty handedly.” He tends to play aggressively, but is working to find the perfect middle-ground between a slow and aggressive strategy.

“When I play aggressively, I find myself making more errors rather than having success. When I play too loosely, then I'm not really achieving anything I want,” Williams said. He aims to find the perfect balance because of his “obsession to be the best I can be.” He does note that his strategy is improving just from the experience he has gained at SHS.

Amongst the search for strategic equilibrium, he has learned the importance of patience in a game. In his underclassmen years, Williams would often find himself losing patience and subsequently making small mistakes. He recognizes his growth in patience over his last two years in high school, something that will surely improve his gameplay after he leaves Sandy.

“I will try out most likely, but I’m just expecting to play recreational or just tournaments, to really just have fun with it,” Williams said. Williams has plans to attend University of Oregon in the fall, and he hopes to continue playing for several years to come. 

“I’m proud that I’ve stuck to it throughout all of high school. I’ve definitely had troubling moments where I didn’t like the sport, but I stuck with it,” Williams said. At the end of his final high school season, Williams is glad he prioritized enjoying the game while still honing his skills. He believes the best advice he ever received was that, at the end of the day, “it’s just a game.”