Mason McKenzie is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arizona College Prep High School for AZPreps365.com

As the Arizona College Prep varsity girls tennis team transitions from Division 2 to the more competitive Division 1 this year, it aims to build on the success of their state championship winning season.

At the same time, it faces tougher competition while striving for continued growth both on and off the court.

Last season, ACP had an unforgettable run, going undefeated and taking home the state championship. 

Although it would be easy to become complacent after such a season, the team looks at this challenge as another opportunity for growth both individually and as a team.

“We operate as one cohesive unit, working together to achieve our collective goals,” coach Deborah Stahl said. “The move to Division 1 brings new challenges but also pushes us to elevate our game.”

Stahl highlighted the importance of offseason work.

“Even during the offseason, our players are dedicated to intense individual training, striving to elevate their personal tennis skills,” Stahl said.

Stahl emphasized the team’s collaborative approach to improvement.

“We hold regular team meetings to discuss strategies for improvement during the offseason,” Stahl said. “Additionally, after each match, we come together to analyze our performance and identify areas for growth. This season, we will set a collective team goal that will guide our efforts throughout the year.”

Players returning from last season, like state champions Payton Tran and Simran Bhalla, are key to helping lead the team through the transition to Division 1.

Their experience in high-pressure situations is valuable, especially as they get set to face tougher opponents.

“In all divisions, there are good teams, but Division 1 is definitely more of a challenge,” said Bhalla, a junior. 

 However, adapting to tougher opponents is not their only challenge. 

For players like Bhalla, although her performance on the court is very important to her, she also makes it a priority to continue to do well in school as she handles the demands of academics and athletics.

“Junior year is important, so I want to keep excelling in school while balancing being a student-athlete,” Bhalla said. 

Tran approaches the challenges of entering the new division with a mindset focused on growth and improvement, looking beyond any pressure and embracing the opportunity ahead of her. She sees this move as a way to challenge herself even further.

"I don’t feel additional pressure as much as I feel an opportunity to improve," Tran said. “The biggest challenge this season is keeping a positive attitude and focusing on improvement. I recognize that none of us are perfect, and I’m trying to emphasize that with the rest of the team.”