Steamboat Springs boys tennis is traveling to the 4A Region 8 Regional Tournament in Grand Junction without its complete roster.
Head coach Jason Scicchitano worked tirelessly to prepare his athletes for what is to come, but woke up Wednesday morning unsure of which players were even competing. Dinosaur Swim Trunks
“We leave for Grand Junction in half-an-hour and we already have two people who are sick,” Scicchitano said Wednesday afternoon.
One player, a member of the No. 2 doubles team, has already been declared out of the competition while the other, the No. 3 singles player, will drive separately with his parents and be a game-time decision, playing only if he is feeling up to it.
The tournament begins on the outdoor courts at Colorado Mesa University on Thursday morning and bleeds into Friday for those who advance far enough. The top two players at each level in the regional advance to state.
“You just have to win three matches to win the whole thing,” Scicchitano said. “But it is harder than it sounds.”
Losing on Thursday does not necessarily mean you are out of the tournament. Those who fall to the overall winner will have a chance to beat the finals loser in a play-back for state qualification.
Scicchitano feels good about the Sailors’ chances for several of their lines and believes anything can happen in the regional. His goal, of course, is to qualify as many of his athletes as possible for state so Steamboat can travel there as a unit.
While Scicchitano used the start of the season to focus on technique and the physical side of tennis, he has recently shifted and spent time on mental toughness to prepare his players for their biggest battles. He wants to get the Sailors to limit mistakes while maintaining a hard, loose and fearless swing with their rackets.
To grasp that concept, Steamboat’s team has undergone a series of pressure drills in practice, which require the athlete to make challenging shots under the weight of a pushup penalty if they fail.
Scicchitano said the training should translate to the tennis courts, but how team members handle the big moments will remain unknown until the first rally at regionals. He said he does expect a few Sailors will advance.
“We are trying to get them to swing at the ball under pressure and that is what it is all about,” Scicchitano said. “For some of our players who are very competitive, the focus is way too much on winning and losing. You can’t control winning and losing, the only thing you can control is playing well.”
To reach Tom Skulski, call 970-871-4240, email tskulski@SteamboatPilot.com.
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