From March 22nd to the 27th, seventeen athletes from the Girls’ and Boys’ Varsity Tennis teams traveled to La Jolla, California. The players and coaches spent six days at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, waking each morning to sunshine in the low 70s and enjoying breezy evenings in the 60s. But what players remember most isn’t the weather; it’s how the group learned to push collectively toward the next level of play.
On the very first afternoon, fresh off a van ride from San Diego International Airport, Tennis Coaches Chad Bright-Reason and Troy Crichlow gathered the team for a brief meeting. “Every year there are multiple goals that I try to achieve through this incredible preseason trip,” Bright-Reason reflected. “Tennis is typically an individual sport, so it is important as a coach for me to create a team culture and common goal setting.”
Hard practice came early. Daily training was divided into two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Jocelyn Riordan ’27 recalled, “a usual day started by waking up around 6:00 or 6:30, having a quick snack, and heading to the courts for a two hour practice.” Riordan went on to recall the small competitions and friendly rivalries between players, noting that it became a catalyst for connection building. During conditioning, players pushed each other through sprints and ladder drills. Riordan described how team building and learning extended beyond the courts. She affectionately recalled that, “You’re all struggling and working through the same challenges, which actually ended up building a unique community.” The morning fitness sessions that included long beach runs became an unexpected test of endurance and an opportunity for teammates to make sure no one lagged behind.
The team also watched a tennis match between the University of California San Diego and The United States Air Force Academy. Coach Bright-Reason noted the value of seeing college tennis up close: “It’s great for my players to get to see tennis at the college level as we get set to begin our quest for an ISL and New England Championship.”
After training sessions, the team headed to the beach or the garden for spikeball, swimming, and pickleball. The strongest connections formed over daily breakfast at the nearby Shorehouse Kitchen and dinners hosted by Milton parents. Grant Fan ’29 expressed, “food was amazing.” Captains added to the energy with a beach bonfire. While recalling these opportunities, Max Pasciucco ’28 explained, “the trip brought us together more because we spent a lot of time together.”
Improvement wasn’t just about refining strokes. It went beyond that, reflecting the connection and trust the team built both on and off the court. Coaches led focused sessions on technique and mental control, reinforcing a shared goal of supporting one another in every match, win or lose. Senior captain Chandler Byrne ’26 commented, “You simply can't perform your best without being close with the people next to you—it creates a real sense of unity.”