The Woodland Boys Tennis Team has been combatting how to solve their problem: the team has only five boys and they need six to be eligible to compete. The Woodland Girls Tennis Team, however did not face this same dilemma. The team had so many girls tryout, the coach had to cut. From this the Boys Tennis Head Coach, Michael Magas, found a solution to his problem- allow girls cut from the girls team to join the boys.

“I believe that some of the girls who were cut would be a good fit for our team, so we decided to add them to be able to compete,”explained Magas.

Three girls, sophomore Elif Abedin, junior Rayhan Luzeri, and sophomore Arianna Sherwood, decided to take this opportunity and join the boys team. They decided that they weren’t going to let being cut stop them from doing what they loved.

“My love for tennis pushed me to join the team. If I could not be on the girls team, the boys team is just as good,” said Sherwood.

The girls hope that playing with the boys will enhance their skills and get them ready to tryout for the team next season.

“Since I did not make the team, I hope that playing with the boys will get me ready to tryout for the girls team once again,” said Luzeri.

Playing with the boys will be a challenge they are ready for, even if originally they were nervous.

“It was hard to decide to join the team because the boys play at high lever than the girls, but I am excited to see how I do,” said Abedin.

Magas, the girls, and the rest of the team are excited to see how the season plays out.

“The practices are going to be run the same way, the girls are going to work just as much as the boys, and with the few practices and match we have had, they have done well so I am excited,” said Magas.