Every year homecoming kicks off with the pep assembly. However, this year, the boys varsity tennis team won’t be there. The team is preparing for its regional tournament on Friday, Oct. 9.

“I was just really disappointed especially because this is my last year, so I’ll never have another pep assembly in my life,” senior Mitchell Zacharias said.

While Zacharias will be missing his last pep assembly, freshman Hunter Williams will be missing his first.

“I’ll be a little disappointed because I know people have said really good things about the pep rally,” Williams said. “But it’s for tennis, so it’s fine.”

Unlike Williams and Zacharias, sophomore Blake Danna isn’t as disheartened as some of his other teammates.

“Missing the pep rally isn’t a big deal for me because I’d rather be supporting my team on the courts,” Danna said.

According to varsity head coach John Van Alst, the state sets the dates for regional tournaments, forcing the tournament to be on the same day as the pep assembly.

Since the tennis team usually hosts regionals, the teams participating in their division are given the date beforehand and set their schedule up around it.

“Traditionally it gets into a schedule, and since it’s always on a Friday, it will continue to be ran on Fridays,” Van Alst said.

The tournament will take place on the new tennis courts.

“It’s gonna be feel awesome, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time,” Zacharias said.

By playing on the courts, the players will be able to attend other homecoming activities.

“The only thing we should miss is the pep assembly,” Zacharias said. “My favorite thing was the football game and dance and the competitions because the student section gets pretty hype.”

If the team wins regionals, they’ll qualify for states, extending a 19-year streak.