Taking the helm of the Hun School girls’ tennis team this fall has given Cheryl Beal the chance to indulge in another aspect of her current sporting passion.
“This is my adult sport, so this is thrilling to me,” said Beal, who starred in field hockey, basketball, and softball at Hun in the 1970s on her way to making the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I get a chance now to work on the stuff that I do on a daily basis in my own game. I do a lot of drills. I play four or five times a week, I do a lot of USTA competitions. I used to coach softball, field hockey, and basketball because I did all of those in high school.”
Beal has focused on developing her players’ inner game along with their strokes.
“I work a lot on the mental aspect,” said Beal, who is following longtime head coach Joan Nuse, a Hun Hall of Fame inductee this past spring for her success in guiding the program. “They are young, it is getting them to fight through things.”
Last week, the Raiders fought hard in taking sixth of 18 schools at the Mercer County Tournament.
“I am thrilled with our performance here; all the girls won their first round matches,” said Beal, reflecting on the team’s overall effort at the MCT.
“Obviously, there are things that we need to work on but I am very excited to be working with girls who want to win.”
The second doubles team of Olivia Hartman and Nina Yao picked up some big wins on the way to taking fourth in their flight at the MCT.
“They have been our winningest team this fall,” said Beal. “I think they have learned to get over the negativity when they get down. Their styles complement each other. Olivia has the really deep groundstrokes and Nina is really great at the net and putting stuff away. Olivia sets her up and Nina puts it away. It is awesome.”
In Beal’s view, her players gained some great experience from competing in the MCT.
“This gets us a little more match savvy,” said Beal. “I think it is the first time in a long time where all the girls won their first match. I think that is something we can bring forward for confidence.”
Beal is confident that Hun can get better and better as the season goes on.
“There is so much talent and they are a very cohesive team,” said Beal, who also teaches English at Hun.
“I feel like going forward we need to get some of the singles down; getting a little more mentally tough, especially in those close matches.”
The singles lineup of Paige Braithwaite, Steph Taylor, and Tali Prozmenter is starting to round into form.
“Paige, our No. 1, is young,” added Beal, whose team edged Moorestown Friends 3-2 last Thursday and plays at South Brunswick on October 9 before hosting Blair Academy on October 11.
“She has won some and has played some really, really tough opponents. Steph is our No. 2, she was No. 1 last year. She is awesome; she is so tough. Tali played a lot in the summer and improved her game and earned the third singles spot.”
In reflecting on her debut campaign as head coach, Beal feels she is in a great spot.
“They support me, I support them,” said Beal. “I tell them everyday that hopefully they know I appreciate them as much as they appreciate me.”