Tory Dana ’24 is a four-year Senior and co-captain of Girls Varsity Tennis. She also plays Varsity Field Hockey and is co-captain of Girls Varsity Diving.
This season, Girls Varsity Tennis fi nished with a 7-3 record and advanced to the quarterfi nals of the New England Tournament. Co-captain Eleni Kontokosta ’25 said, “Tory is a ray of sunshine. She’s always there with a smile, making teammates feel better about themselves.”
Head Coach Maja Clark said, “Tory has been on the team for as long as I’ve been coaching. She is an extraordinary athlete and person. She leads by example: she’s always on time, she’s always pleasant, she works really hard, she is consistently good—she never takes days off.”
How did you start playing tennis?
As a kid, tennis was something I did for fun in the summers. I would always play with my friends, and it was a great way to get outside and get some exercise. I really learned to love the sport.
What lessons have you learned from the team?
It’s that support for your teammates in high-pressure situations. In tennis, mentality is a big aspect of the game, so if I’m playing and I know that my teammates are there cheering me on, it always helps me to perform better.
What is one of your favorite memories?
About two years ago, we came back from New Englands at Deerfi eld. We had just played a very close game and lost. We got back to Hotchkiss at about 3 p.m., and it was a gorgeous day. We were jealous because everyone had been at the lake that day, so Coach Clark said, “We’ll take you to the lake!” She drove our mid-bus all the way down onto the grass by the lake, and we all got out and went swimming in our dresses. It was such a fun and unique moment.
What advice would you give to current tennis players?
Be sure to keep your head in the game. Don’t take it too seriously, because if you start overthinking it you can go downhill. Just stay positive. Enjoy yourself while you’re on the courts, too, because you’ll always play better if you’re having fun.
