Change is painful but sometimes beauty prevails

It is Summer time for coaches so our time around our campuses is limited. The funny thing about that is when we see something every day we don’t notice any change but when we leave for a bit and come back it appears many things look different. That is what struck me today as I went to FSC for a little paperwork day. I stopped by to look at the new Wynee Warden Tennis Complex and wow what a difference a week makes. There are bleachers, lights, the base surface has been laid and it is actually beginning to look like a tennis complex. After gazing out through the construction fence and imagining what the future looks like I went and parked in my standard spot by the back four courts known as the pit. The past right in front of me through the windshield of my car. After a multitude of thoughts of matches past I proceeded to walk to the front and see if any de-construction had taken place on the complex previously known as the Beerman Tennis Complex. Again there was a wow moment when I came around the corner and there were no fences, no bleachers, no nets, and a giant excavator sitting on what was the #1 player’s court. Yep, progress was happening. For so many years the tennis courts have been in the middle of campus which was good and bad. There was always a built in audience but with only five courts a college match could not be played with all matches playing together. That is where the pit came in. The four courts in the back separated from the front courts by Jenkins Fieldhouse. For years coaches, players, and fans had to shuttle back and forth to keep an eye on their favorite player. Great players and coaches have made the walk and complained under their breath or out loud for all those years. As much as a pain in the ass the set-up was it was ours. As a team we embraced our quirky little complex and the nuances it had. When on the back courts (the pit) you had to beware of the 4pm osprey feeding. This included it pooping on the courts while simultaneously dropping the part of the fish it didn’t want on to the surface below. There was also the occasional foul ball from softball and the lack of concentration from the team when the ladies went into the bullpen to warm up the laser fast pitches. The front courts were where the show was. Guys played without shirts to try and get the attention of the multitude of co-eds who streamed by the courts. There were also the times that tennis balls became cannons. Can you hit the pool from here? Can you hit it over the building? Cheering fans were always welcomed even when they cheered during a point. Some players had fraternity brothers that chanted their name, others had a bevy of females that would just come and watch. There were times the bleachers looked like a fashion show or a bikini contest. I am not sure if it was a coincidence but the guys sure played good on those days. I have yet to speak of the giant walls that protected our great fortress. These walls were like a giant pinball machine and the players were the flippers and the big yellow balls were the steel orbs. They caused many stops in play, inadvertent pain from ricochets, and did I mention racket damage. Those walls could obliterate a racket with one fail swoop. I have seen the best players in the country destroy their tools in moments of rage. The walls kept their secrets for many years. The walls are disappearing and they are taking their secrets with them. I’ve only had the privilege of working on those courts for the past 5 years but I truly respect the history that the facility will leave behind. To have progress some things must be torn down. Starting in the Fall of this year I will get to be the first coach on the brand new Wynee Warden Tennis Complex. The facility is going to be beautiful. No more walking around to watch matches. There are going to be no walls, no pit, and no walls. There is also going to be no co-eds, no softball, and no distractions. The crowd will come, the beauty will come from the amazing surrounding built into the new facility, and the history made will begin with what we bring to it. Progress isn’t always what we want but in order for us to grow we must have it. I have embraced the new facility, its location, and the responsibility it brings. I also am very excited that I have a chance to create history that will be around for another 30-50 years.