The Panther

Issue date: 3/7/07 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Evan White

It's a known fact that the PV men's tennis team captured the SWAC Championship during the 2005-2006 season, but that is something they refuse to settle for. They want more.

Everyday the men's and women's tennis team are hard at work, suffering through Prairie View's unpredictable weather conditions, sunburns, blisters, and fighting through injuries.

All of these amount to only one thing, the cost of paying their dues.

John Cochran Jr., 2005-2006 SWAC men's tennis coach of the year, and the head coach of the men's and women's Tennis team, has the passion, respect, and devotion for the teams. "Teamwork, if you are not a team, you can't win" is what Cochran heavily emphasizes when asked what is the biggest attribute that contributes to the teams' success.

The tennis teams have recruits from all over the world. On the women's side, the members of the team come from California, Jamaica, Texas, Missouri, and Tennessee. There are currently three freshmen, four sophomores, and one senior who make up the team.

On the men's side, members of the team have come from all over the world, ranging from Hawaii, Columbia, Texas, Jamaica, Missouri, and Zimbabwe. The team is composed of three freshmen, one sophomore, three juniors, and two seniors.

Currently, the tennis teams are preparing for the SWAC round-up, which will be held March 23-24, and the SWAC tournament which is quickly approaching.

The women's SWAC record is 2-3, but they still have a chance to win the SWAC title, while the men are currently undefeated in the SWAC.

Cochran said, "Showing up to practice injured or not, to play this game you have to be dedicated."

The tennis teams have a challenging road trip ahead of them, but with the support of Prairie View, anything is possible.

"Teamwork is vital to a teams success although tennis is an individual sport, but in tennis, individuality has no place," said Cochran.

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