Student-athletes and their coaches traveled to train and compete against teams from other states, for the first time since 2019.

Boys Varsity Tennis (BVT) traveled to Long Beach, California, and spent most of each day practicing, BVT Head Coach Joe Finelli said.

“The purpose of this trip was to let the guys bond as a team, in addition to getting lots of practice in,” Coach Finelli said.

Because of COVID precautions, BVT spent more time outside and less time in restaurants or shops than in 2019, Coach Finelli said.

BVT Captain Pablo Segovia ’23 said he enjoyed the trip since he was able to spend time with the team in a new environment, allowing him to see a different side of many of his teammates.

“It was a great way to get into the rhythm of the season, get practice in, and most importantly, get to know everyone,” he said. “Instead of just seeing people two hours a day, five days a week, I was spending an entire week with them, 24/7.”

During the BVT trip, the team practiced outdoors twice a day at various academies and resorts. In between these practices, the team would have free time to eat meals and socialize. With the extra playing time, they developed new skills, as they played with and learned from California professionals and their coaches, Pablo said.

Girls Varsity Tennis (GVT) traveled to Orlando, Florida to train on the campus of the United States Tennis Association (USTA). GVT player Alexa Konstantopoulos ’24 was thrilled to play at USTA as she’s wanted to visit the campus for years, she said.

“We saw a ton of college tennis teams, learned from new coaches, and even got to observe matches,” she said. Alexa added that she can already tell this team is tighter than last year’s team because of the trip.

GVT player Grace Fantozzi ’23 said her excitement for the upcoming season skyrocketed as a result of the trip.

“Going into the trip, I was looking forward to the tennis aspect and training, but it turned out to be such an amazing opportunity to bond with other team members,” Grace said.

Coed Golf traveled to the Orange Lake Golf Resort in Kissimmee, Florida.

Golfer Ana Chrysa Marvelias ’24 was pleased the team was able to hone its skills, she said.

“It was nice to actually get to practice on the course and implement technical changes that we had all made on the driving range to an actual course setting,” she said.

The team also bonded by exchanging golf advice with one another, golfer Henry Kirk ’24 said.

“Dinners were wonderful because not only did we get to know each other a bit better, but we also reflected on what we had worked on that day skills-wise.”

In addition to practicing golf, they also spent a lot of time outdoors with one another, Henry said.

“We went go-karting, relaxed on the beach, and had quality meals together,” Henry said. “The trip made the team a tighter-knit community, and I became better friends with the people I wouldn’t normally play with at practice because of the meals we shared together.”

At Orange Lake, Coed Golf met 2021 Masters Tournament Winner Hideki Matsuyama, which Henry added was “surreal!”

Boys Varsity Lacrosse (BVL) traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Similar to the other teams that took trips, BVL became more of a family than a team, BVL player Jamie Weyerhaeuser ’23 said.

“We really got to spend every moment of every day together, which was awesome. It was like being a pro athlete,” Jamie said.

Danny McNeill ’23 said the rigorous practices set the team up well for the start of the season.

“The team can all see how helpful it was for our stamina and skill-practice. We are now more mentally and physically prepared for this season,” Danny said.