Senior Ethan Bass has been a big contributor to the boys varsity tennis team since his freshman year. Opening state playoffs with a match on April 19th against Centennial, Bass is optimistic about leading this year’s squad to a state championship. 

Ethan’s father, Craig Bass, points out the physical and mental development he’s seen in Ethan over the years that’s resulted in the player Ethan is today.

“Over the last year, Ethan has made huge strides physically,” Craig Bass said. “Mentally, he has also made huge gains, stemming from maturing as a young man, but also using all of his past match experiences, enabling him to overcome obstacles on the court that would not have been possible years ago. The mental part of the game is huge. ”

Senior teammate Sam Winkler has watched Ethan develop through the years, noticing significant differences in his game mentally. 

“Mentally, Ethan is very hard to play against on the tennis court,” Winkler said. “He’s great at not letting mistakes take over his game, and making sure he stays focused throughout the whole match.”

With goals to play collegiate tennis, staying healthy is a crucial success factor. His career so far has been filled with injuries, and has limited his ability to consistently improve. Ethan hasn’t let injuries bother him, and has continued to stay focused.

“The hardest part about my tennis journey has been my injuries. I have dealt with multiple injuries since I started my tennis career,” Ethan Bass said. “Since sixth grade, I have not played more than half of a tennis season.  From tendinitis to sprained ankles, injuries have hampered my success.”

These injuries have affected his national recruiting rankings.

“Injuries have kept him off the court for extended periods of time,” Craig Bass said. “Time off the court keeps him from improving his UTR (Universal Tennis Rating) and his national ranking.”

As a senior, college recruitment has been a factor Ethan considers for his future.

“My goal is to play at a Division 1 school,” Ethan Bass said. “A few Division 1 schools have contacted me, and Merrimack College is the biggest school that has contacted me. It is a Division 1 school outside of Boston, and I was offered a scholarship, but I did not accept it. I am still looking for a walk-on at a university.”

As the team’s leader, Bass acknowledges the responsibility and accountability that come with the role.

“To become a leader on the team this year, I need to bring energy to every practice and match,” Bass said. “I need to encourage the team to believe in themselves before and during every match. During the state tournament, we may be underdogs, but once you are on the court, everyone has an equal chance.”