When a team gets a new coach, there is usually a blend of excitement and nervousness. 

that’s what Brooke Boyd is feeling now as she prepares to lead the Viewmont girls tennis team. 

A new coach can infuse enthusiasm into a program – enthusiasm that may have been missing. For the coach, there are a lot of unknowns, such as how the players will respond and whether there will be a good connection. For players, the change can be positive, but there can also be some resistance. 

Boyd is eager to get started. She played tennis in high school and has played off and on in the years that have followed. 

“I'm most excited about getting into the tennis community again,” she said. “I'm excited to get to know the good group of girls we have and to get involved in fun competition again.”

Boyd inherits a team that tied for 12th in the Class 5A state tournament last season. Viewmont had six points at state, tied with Wasatch and Alta. Among Region 5 teams, the Vikings were second. The Vikings got their points from the second singles duo of Cara Vogrinec and Catherine Gladwell. Gladwell, who won a first-round match and lost in the quarterfinals. Gladwell graduated, but Vogrinec was just a sophomore. 

Though at press time Boyd hadn’t yet held tryouts and hadn’t solidified her team, most of last year’s varsity players were underclassmen. 

At first singles, Emily Bowen was a sophomore last season. Second singles competitor Sophia Robison is just a sophomore this season. Meanwhile, at third singles, Annabella Uffens was a junior, so she is eligible to return to the team for her senior year. In addition to Vogrinec being a junior and able to come back to the squad, two other doubles players from last year were underclassmen. First doubles players from 2022, Sadie Erickson and Anna Fillmore, are seniors this season. So while Boyd hadn’t quite decided on a lineup for the 2023 campaign as of our press time, she had some experienced candidates to choose from. 

No matter whom she picks to play on the varsity squad, Boyd wants the players to be ready to compete. She isn’t shy about putting her team up against talented opponents.

“The expectation this season is to play a high level of teams,” she said. “We've got a lot of good teams in our regions, as well as playing good competitive non-region teams and tournaments.”

One thing Boyd is confident about is her players’ preparation and attitude.

“The girls work really hard and prepare well for season play,” she said. “Most of them are used to practicing and playing matches year-round.”

Boyd acknowledges that there will likely be some ups and downs in her first year at the helm of the Vikings’ program. But she also believes that working together, she, the players and her staff can have a successful year. 

“As a team, we need to learn to be flexible and communicate,” Boyd said. “There are lots of changes as a new coach – changes with policy from administration. We will need to learn to communicate these changes and roll with the punches.”

The girls tennis season began Aug. 7. The state tournament is Sept. 28 and 30.