At Stone Memorial High School, tennis practice does not feel like routine. It feels like a match. That is exactly how head coach Nicole Masood wants it.
Masood said she brings an energy to every practice with the Panthers boys tennis team, creating an environment where competition is constant and intensity rarely dips. And with both the boys and girls teams sharing the court, that edge only sharpens.
“Somebody wants to win all the time,” Masood said. “And, you know, my girls get out there and they just, they’re so competitive against the boys. They’re going to beat the boys so sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t.”
That daily back-and-forth has become the backbone of the program. Instead of separating squads, Masood said she leans into the challenge, letting players test themselves against different styles and speeds, something that mirrors real match pressure.
Battling nagging injuries, the Panthers were forced to adjust, but Masood said her team never wavered in its approach.
“They held their own. They rose up to the occasion and did what they had to do,” Masood said. “We struggled a little bit, but my boys were amazing throughout the season, just good attitudes.”
That mindset is no accident. Before every match, Masood said she poses a question, one that cuts straight to the mental side of tennis.
“When we get out into matches, I have to ask them, are you afraid to win, or are you afraid to lose? Which one is it?” Masood said. “If they play to their ability and have that competitiveness, you know, thrive during that match, most of the time my kids will go out there and put up a good fight.”
The Stone Memorial boys tennis team is searching for its first-ever state tournament appearance. But with a culture built on daily competition, resilience through adversity, and a coach who refuses to let intensity slip, the foundation is clearly taking shape.