Every team has its own personality. Some rely on intense preparation and high expectations, while others find success through the relationships they build along the way.
By: Jeremy Raab
For Mr. Lugten´s team, the atmosphere was relaxed. The players enjoyed each other´s company, and their personalities helped create an environment where tennis was about more than just winning.
Looking back forty-three years later, Lugten remembers a team no one expected to win the Regional Final. The team finished the season with a 9-5 record, putting them in 5th place in the league. They weren´t the favorites, but they didn’t have to carry the pressure that comes with being the team everyone expects to succeed. Instead, they had something else: a group of players who enjoyed being around each other and came together when it mattered. 1983 Boys Tennis Team Picture
¨We were a bunch of screwballs and guys who enjoyed playing with each other. Our environment was loose; we didn’t have any pressure on us.” Mr. Lugten recalled.
The lack of pressure shaped the way the team approached the finals. Rather than allowing the stakes to overwhelm them, they focused on playing their best and enjoying the opportunity they were given.
Before the matches began, the message was simple: give it your best effort and accept the outcome. ¨Try your best and what happens, happens¨ Lugten said. That mindset became an important part of the team´s experience. They also understood the challenge in front of them, but they understood that the result would not define whether they gave their best effort.
In the end, the Hawkeyes were able to win the Regional Championship with a total of 13 points, beating Okemos (9), Hastings (9), Wayland (3), Paw Paw (2), Plainwell (0), and Charlotte (0). Some other notable achievements were Wade Tanis winning the team MVP (Most Valuable Player) and Mr. Lugten winning MIP (Most Improved Player).