Texas Wesleyan’s tennis teams are swinging into the spring 2019 season.

Head Coach Angel Martinez and Assistant Coach Steve Foster are preparing both the men’s and women’s squads for the spring.

Martinez has big plans for both the men’s and women’s teams by the end of this season.

“For the guys to get as far as they can in the regional tournament,” Martinez said. “If we can get into the finals, that would be awesome.”

Martinez said the women’s team has made it to regionals all four years of its existence but has lost to Louisiana State University at Alexandria each year. He thinks this year will be different.

“I think this is our year to get past them,” Martinez said.

Women’s tennis team seniors Emily Rodriguez and Maggie Brasher are the last players from Martinez’s first recruiting class.

Rodriguez said via a text that she hopes to enjoy her last season on the team, play hard and hopes the team has fun.

“We all have been working hard,” Rodriguez said. “I think we can get our job done and have fun while doing it.”

Brasher emphasizes the women’s team’s strength is within each other. She is confident that the team’s hard work will show through their performance on the court.

“We are like family, and that is better than any specific game style,” Brasher said via text message.

Brasher, like all the members on the team, has her sights set on playing at the 2019 NAIA Women’s Tennis National Championship in Alabama.

“Since this is my senior season, I want to go out swinging, literally,” Brasher said. “I want to have a lot of confidence in myself. That way we can hopefully get our chance at nationals.”

Men’s tennis team sophomore Linus Richter believes that the team has gained more experience compared to last year and is hopeful that this will help with the season.

Richter’s goals for the team are to win and go to nationals.

“The best would be to go to nationals,” Richter said.

Sophomore Mace Brasher wrote in a text that he feels confident in the team after finishing fourth in the region last year.

“We have all grown more as a team, since this is most of the team’s second season with each other,” Brasher said.

Brasher hopes to win his matches and for his team to compete well and beat difficult teams to gain confidence for the season.

The men’s and women’s next match is at Louisiana State University at Alexandria on Feb. 22-23. For more information, go to ramsports.net.