Pine-Richland girls tennis coach Siriprasert focuses on building success

Sender: Jerin Steele

Sunday 19 September 2021 | 11.01

As a tennis coach, Jirakorn “Dang” Siriprasert focuses more on the process than the result.

Sometimes these two can go hand in hand.

The Pine-Richland girls ’team won a largely new university list this year, and won the first four episodes of the season, and she’s on her way to a post-season spot.

“It’s gone really well,” Siriprasert said. “Even though our team is really new and only one girl came back from last year, everyone is working really hard. They work as a team. I always tell them it’s first the team and then the personal needs.

“I watch the process every day. How did you go? If you lost, what did you do well even if you lost? My team knows that the process is more important than the outcome itself.”

The Rams defeated Butler, Hampton, the Seneca Valley, and Shaler.

The only return player who played at the university last year is secondary Rachel Smith, who is ranked second.

Lily Hinds, junior, is the number one single player. Siriprasert said Hinds was his last player last year and was on the junior team, but his game developed exponentially over the summer.

“Lilly has worked so hard and it let her get up,” Siriprasert said. “Everyone is working hard because they know I’m not going to just pick them on the university team. They have to earn it. “

Senior Haley Katzfrey is the number one single player. The combination of Kiana Strahotin, Isabella Calabresen, Samy Ravichandran and Olivia Casario forms double teams.

Siriprasert has worked with his girls in the field. He said that sometimes high school players tend to return the ball and run to the starting line, and he encourages them to stand and attack the net.

“I’m not worried about a particular exercise or something like that. I want them to learn how to win the point, ”Siriprasert said. – When they play singles, they need to know how to cover the field. There are three areas: the green, yellow, and red areas. In the green area you play to win a point. In the yellow zone you build to win the point, and the red zone is a few steps away from where you should be, so try to restore it and get in a better position. “

Siriprasert is focused on making tennis a pleasant environment for its girls. He quoted pro tennis player Naomi Oksuda’s openness to mental health battles and said she could serve as a role model for high school girls everywhere.

Winning is always a good thing, but Siriprasert wants his program to act as a refuge from the stresses of everyday life.

“We don’t know what’s going on at home or at school, so when they come to court, I just want them to be happy,” Siriprasert said. “I want older girls to help younger ones. I pair them together to help each other. It teaches them leadership and cooperation. “

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland