As they entered Norwood High School in 2014 as freshmen, both Ram Goli and Yash Aryaputra decided to go out for the tennis team. Goli began playing the sport on and off since the age of eight while Aryaputra picked up a racquet for the very first time as a freshman.
While most incoming freshmen watch and learn from the sidelines, the incoming first year students were forced into the fire immediately.
“As freshmen, they were both thrust into varsity competition even though they were not ready,” Norwood Boys Tennis Coach John Churchill said. “The team had gone through so much turnover after the 2013 season due to graduation and other factors.”
Goli, who began taking tennis serious his junior campaign when he joined a club team, recalled that first season playing third singles.
“That freshmen year was very tough; as a team we had no wins and I was playing against much more experienced and developed athletes,” Goli said. “But playing tougher opponents was enjoyable as I got better.”
Aryaputra also remembers that first year being hell.
“As freshman you expect to learn, but not having the numbers at Norwood we found that not only were we on the varsity team, but we were playing right away,” Aryaputra said. “It was frustrating seeing how developed the other players were that we had to go up against. I realized that I was going to have to work hard during the summers to get better and believe I’ve finally caught up to them.”
Despite being on the short end of the score time and time again, neither athlete wavered from the sport and committed themselves to improving their game. Come their sophomore seasons, both Goli and Aryaputra not only captured their first varsity wins, but the team was making strides as well.
“That year they both broke through with individual wins as the team was slowly developing experience and incremental improvements in our abilities and team depth,” the Mustang Coach said. “You could see that they grew to love the sport while also developing a team mentality.”
As a junior, Goli captured the right to play number one singles for the Mustangs and although he only was able to win on two occasions, he was earning valuable experience. That same year Aryaputra found himself in the third singles spot winning half of his eight matches while also making strides.
This year, Goli has held onto the number one single position while his teammate moved up a notch and currently sits right behind him at second singles. Coach Churchill sees improvement in their game from only a year earlier.
“Yash has developed a good full court game, while improving his serve,” Churchill said. “Ram has brought his game to another level revamping his second serve. Both also played a lot in the off season.”
As they enter their fourth and final varsity season, Goli and Aryaputra were named team captains and both are looking forward to a season that could be one for the books at Norwood.
“I’m very optimistic about this season, it’s one of the best we’ve had in years,” Aryaputra said. “The team is enthused and ready to play. As a captain, I’m hoping that I can leave the younger kids in a better place with a strong core for the years to come.”
Goli also sees this year’s squad as one of the strongest in their four years and is looking to improve.
“I feel that we’re going to be able to compete with a lot of teams in the league this year, Goli said. "Having only two wins last year I know that we can improve. We have a lot of promising young players that I hope I can be a role model too as their captain. I remember what it was like to be in their shoes as a freshman.”
Churchill could not agree more with his two seniors.
“I could not ask for more from these two co-captains in terms of leadership by example, communication and dedication to the team, Churchill said. "It’s hard to talk about one of these guys without the other as they have actively worked to build a team culture. Their excitement for the season has energized the team and it is great as a coach, to know that my captains are such good representatives of the team as well as the school.”
Having endured the adversity of freshmen being thrust into a situation they were not quite ready for, Aryaputra and Goli have both come a long way on the tennis courts. It is Churchill’s hope that more people will recognize the duo for the way they attacked the sport and give it a try as it is a great opportunity for high school kids.