Simpson College men’s tennis fell 7-0 to Central College on April 1 at the Knapp Tennis Center located at Drake University. Head coach Matt Price made it clear that effort and mindset matter more than the final score, especially against higher-level competition.
“We got guys that don’t quit,” Price said. “We’re going to compete hard regardless of the score.”
Even in a tough matchup, Simpson continued to compete from start to finish. Instead of letting up when matches got out of reach, the team continued to fight through points, and played with purpose.
“They could have rolled over, but they didn’t,” Price said. “That shows the character of those guys. They’re willing to work, they play hard, and we’re not going to quit.”
This mentality has been key for a team made up largely of young players who are still adjusting to the college level. For first-year Hudson Christie, the jump from high school to collegiate tennis has been one of the biggest changes this season.
“The biggest adjustment is just the level of competition,” Christie said. “Now I’m playing people with a lot more experience… so it’s a whole new level.”
Instead of being discouraged by losses, Christie said the experience has helped him grow.
“I’ve learned that losing is part of the experience,” he said. “You learn the most from the matches that you lose.”
However, Christie isn’t the only one feeling this growth; the entire team feels it. He credited his teammates for creating an environment to help him adjust quickly both on and off the court.
“The team has helped me settle in so much,” he said. “They’ve helped me grow into a different person already—a better person for sure.”
This connection is something the team captain, and only senior, Grant Love, has seen develop since the start of the season.
“Since the first practice, we’ve all connected very well,” Love said. “The guys really just get to enjoy the sport more and enjoy the season.”
Love has taken on a leadership role, balancing intensity during matches while keeping the team grounded and connected off the court.
“Off the court, (I) just trying to enjoy myself and enjoy being with these guys,” he said. “It’s kind of embracing what I have left.”
Love has also seen how much the program has grown during his time at Simpson.
“It’s nice to see how the program has changed from when I came in to where we are now and where it will be in the future,” he said.
For Price, the future is built on steady improvement and confidence, not just results.
“One thing we try to do is get one percent better every day,” he said. “The guys are starting to believe they can compete at this level.”
Simpson men’s tennis is focused less on results and more on the future, knowing the wins will come as the growth continues.
