Dolphins Character is Apparent On and Off the Court
When Ocean Lakes High school opened, its girls’ tennis program consisted of eight young ladies, none of whom had tennis experience. Needless to say, their record that year was underwhelming. Coach David Hales, however, pressed on. By the third season, the Dolphins went 7-5 and they have not had a losing season since.
Last year, Hales had over one hundred young ladies try out for the team. “The biggest strength of the team is its depth. Even though many of them are beginners, there are so many that try out that there is bound to be strength in the team,” he says. “So many of them did not know that they were athletic until they joined the team. I’ve even had several of them go on to play in college.” Although there are individual standouts on the team, such as senior Katherine Morgan, the Dolphins are particularly adept at winning doubles.
But Hales is also quick to point out that the Dolphins’ biggest strength is apparent both on and off the court. “The thing I really pride myself in is the character of these young ladies,” he says. “They are great role models for the people around them. One of every three athletes on this team last year made straight As. In fact, the team had a 3.6 GPA overall. It is really uplifting for me to be around them.”
So what does Hales want to do with this talented, wholesome team? “My goal overall,” he says, “is to have a good season.” Undoubtedly, Ocean Lakes will continue their streak of winning seasons since there are plenty of athletes to fill the gaps made by graduating seniors last year. And Hales challenges the Dolphins to take their game to a higher level in practice. “For the first week or so, we brush up on techniques, but after that, I teach them to think about the game rather than just hitting the ball. I especially work with them in finding angles, and not just because I am a geometry teacher. Angles are how they will win the game.”
Lisa Swallow has evidently mastered the art of using angles to her advantage. This sixteen-year-old junior shared the top ranking on the team last year with Katherine Morgan. Swallow has amply demonstrated her command of tennis and risen to the top of the team. Last year, she was the Dolphins’ MVP, only after being named the most valuable new player the year before that.
Swallow will be a contender for district champion this season. If she does manage to win this title, it will likely be because of her powerful, accurate backhand. She is able to use this swing consistently to her advantage against opponents of different playing styles. Her secret? “I like to practice matches with many different players so I can get a sense for different styles of play,” she says. Being exposed to so many fashions allows her to quickly make necessary adjustments when facing diverse opponents in competition.
Swallow has also proven her command of doubles play. Two years ago, she achieved third place in the Beach district in doubles with partner Elisabeth Miller. However, Swallow not only sees doubles as a personal asset. Like Coach Hales, she recognizes this as a team strength. “We are known for doubles. Other teams say that our doubles are pretty good.” Also like Hales, Swallow looks forward to several matches in particular. They agree that Cox, First Colonial and Princess Anne and Kellam should be tough competitions.
A final point of agreement between coach and athlete is that guidance and purpose come from those who surround them. For Hales, the strong character of the young ladies that comprise the team reassures him that this is a solid tennis program. For Swallow, it is her father, Jim Swallow. “My dad is definitely my biggest influence. After a match, he tells me what I need to work on so that I can get better. He always keeps my spirits high.”
By any measure, the continually-improving girls’ tennis program at Ocean Lakes has thus far been a success. With a coach like Hales and leaders like Swallow, the Dolphins will surely succeed this season too.
