CHURCHILL TENNIS PROGRAM: Diana Riechel: Head Tennis Coach; Matt Fernandez: Assistant Tennis Coach
TRYOUTS for Fall 2025 varsity consideration begin Monday, July 28th- July 31st 8:00am- TBD
JV/VARSITY MANDATORY meeting will take place: Tuesday, July 22nd at 6:30pm in the MAT Room in the Athletic Building located at the back of the school.
MEET THE CHARGERS (Varsity Only) is : Wednesday, August 23rd, 5:30-8pm at BLOSSOM (A fun opportunity for student athletes to be introduced and A LOT of school spirit items will be sold)
ALL COMMUNICATION / INFORMATION PERTAINING TO THE SEASON WILL BE ON SPORTSYOU APP
2025 Summer schedule / Fall varsity tryouts and matches: Varsity Tryouts Information
Varsity tryouts begin @ WCHS Monday July 28 at 8 am. There will be multiple matches each day as we have our first match during the first week of school. Players should be heat-acclimated and prepared to play multiple matches during the day. This will establish the top Varsity Boys and Girls.
We live in South Texas and have to compete in very hot temps for the majority of the Fall season. Incoming participants need to be heat acclimated by having played throughout the summer. We do not have enough time from the beginning of tryouts to our first match to get the athletes ready. This is an expectation of all who have varsity goals.
We keep approximately 20 kids in the varsity program. Most of these kids have years of tennis experience, with many competing in tournaments each month along with lessons/clinics. A commitment to tennis outside the tennis period has proven to be necessary to have success in this district and region.
The Varsity expectation is that attendance at morning practice is mandatory each day that practice is scheduled. Teachers do not get here until 8 am for tutoring. Kids need to be warmed up and ready to practice at 7:30 am. Only if there is an appointment or family obligation will practice be missed. Text communication is imperative if a student is running late. Excessive absences from practice do affect participation in matches and tournaments. We have doubles pairings that require each teammate to be in attendance at practice. No practice or less practice will equal no play or less play.
If you are on the JV team, the expectation is to attend afternoon practice. No practice or less practice will equal no play or less play.
All required physical paperwork must be submitted for participation. These high school physical forms can be found on neisd.net. Click on athletics and then the parent page. There is a link to the required athlete forms. There is an online participation form to be completed by the student and a parent. The physical needs to be completed by a doctor and the medical history is completed by a parent.
Click here for required athlete forms
The Fall season is Team Tennis for both Varsity and JV. The Fall season ends in mid October with the Spring Individual season for both Varsity and JV beginning in January.
The Team Tennis season will have approximately 10 boys/10 girls. 20 total for Varsity and 20 total for JV. JV may have more student athletes but those that are in the top 8 will have the first opportunity to play if eligible and meet athletic code of conduct standards.
JV tryouts will begin the second day of school. The main JV season takes place throughout the spring semester. Again, all required paperwork must be completed and submitted to be able to tryout, practice and participate. The JV team is competitive and we keep about 20 kids. This is not an introduction to tennis class or intended to take the place of a p.e.credit. Objective measurements of skills (grips, spin, rallying) will take place.
Due to the volume of student athletes trying out for tennis, cuts will need to be made. Anyone that is not in the top 10 girls and top 10 boys will be dismissed at 4:15pm until they are invited to stay until 5:30pm.
In the spring, for Varsity and JV events, there are 4 singles spots and 12 doubles/mixed doubles spots. In April, there is a district tournament that gives the athletes an opportunity to earn a spot at Regionals and the state tournament.
The athletic periods are not intended to be an introduction to tennis or a substitution for a P.E. credit. We make every attempt to have athletes participate in other activities at school, but sometimes difficult choices have to be made if schedules overlap.
Each year we have had multiple summa cum laude graduates in our program, proving it is possible to maintain a varsity tennis commitment while budgeting appropriate time to academic pursuits. One of the main pillars in our program is to teach accountability and responsibility. Good grades are an expectation and are required for participation in the tennis program at Churchill HS.
Please email me at driech1@neisd.net if you need help finding local tennis lessons and camps. Blossom tennis center has half and full day camps all summer. They also offer 30 minute and 1 hour private lessons to get ready for tryouts. Basic strokes with the right grips and spins are expected to make the JV team.You can find out more info on blossomtennis.com (210) 491-6108. Godwin Tennis Academy, Ideal Tennis Academy, Whispering Oaks, Shadow Cliff Tennis Club, Newks Tennis Ranch, and The Jewish Community Center are all possibilities for camps or clinics. All of these academies offer after school programs.
Please have all required forms completed and submitted before tryouts.
Thank you and see you on the courts!
Coach Riechel
driech1@neisd.net
