Some teams might get nervous before the biggest match of the season.
Tennessee High played corn hole.
Forced to wait an extra hour to take the court for their AAA boys team tennis state tournament semifinal match Tuesday after early morning rain pushed back the schedule, the Vikings brought out beanbags and ETSU-stamped boards and amused themselves with a spirited battle that turned out to be more competitive than their 4-0 sweep of Houston once they finally picked up their rackets.
“The corn hole was something just to relax with, you know,” Wilson said.
While Wilson got the easiest tennis win, picking up a 6-0, 6-0 triumph at No. 2 singles, he said No. 1 singles player Conner Knox had no equal when it came to corn hole.
“Knox was very good at that,” he said. “Knox was a star.”
Senior Owen Rockett said the corn hole game exemplified the easy-going attitude of the team.
“When we were waiting, we were playing corn hole over there, having fun,” he said. “But when we come out [to the court], we come out and take care of business.”
The Vikings also unveiled for the first time this season a let’s-get-crazy tribal chant as they swayed in a circle with arms locked around one another just before taking the court, a motivational technique more commonly seen before football or basketball games.
“It’s something new just to get ourselves very mentally prepared, just realize it’s game time,” Wilson said.
Rockett added that the Vikings normally take a more quiet approach before their matches, but decided to mix things up for the state tournament.
“We’ve always sort of said it to ourselves,” he said. “We’ve never really said it out loud, but we figured we made it to state, why not?”
If the Vikings can get one more win Wednesday in the final against powerhouse Brentwood, they’ll likely have a new chant.
State champs.
nhubbard@bristolnews.com | Twitter: @Hubbard_BHCSprt | (276) 645-2543
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