Will Herndon began his tennis career long before Berkeley High School. In fact, by the age of 14, Herndon was ranked 20th in California for his age group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he played more than three hours of tennis daily. This training schedule was very difficult on him mentally. “I’d have to skip birthday parties and sleepovers, just because I had tournaments the next day,” Herndon explained. So, after placing well at a big tournament, he rewarded himself with a summer away from tennis. “I took this break, and I just loved it. I just loved hanging out with my friends, so I made the decision to quit,” he said.
After taking a full year away from the sport, Herndon decided to return as a member of the BHS tennis team, this time with a completely new mindset. “I’m there to have fun,” he said, “I try not to treat it as seriously.” Still, Herndon stays competitive, and does whatever he can to win when he’s on the court. In his eyes, there are two ways to win in tennis. “I want to beat them physically, but I also try to (beat them mentally).” This includes trash talk that can sometimes lead to hot-headed post-match conversations with opponents, but always leads to on-court entertainment. For Herndon, the team means more than just competition. “It’s a really fun environment,” he said, “I can really be myself around these guys.” After years of pressure, Herndon has found something different at BHS: a team that, in his words, “means everything.”