This week, your HSE Royals Boys Tennis team will take the courts for a highly anticipated match, hoping to dominate in the IHSAA Sectionals on Wednesday and Thursday, Oct. 1 and 2. Except they will not be playing on their home courts — and they haven’t all season. The Royals knew it would be a bumpy road when they learned the home courts would be under reconstruction for the entire season.
Since 1998, the Royals have relied on the original courts as their home. Now, 27 years later, the district announced plans to remodel the outdated facility.
According to the Hamilton County Reporter, “The HSE School Board approved the sale of $15 million in general obligation bonds to support athletic and facility improvements across the district. Projects include upgrades to tennis courts, tracks, and gymnasiums.”
HSE is showing its commitment to athletes by funding upgrades not only for tennis but for multiple sports across the district.
The Royals are no strangers to adversity, facing a season spent entirely on the road and the loss of special traditions like Senior Night.
Gernert said the biggest lesson his team has learned is resilience. “We’ve had only away matches this year, and with the other construction around campus we can’t use our locker room, so the boys have had to really learn to adapt, be ready for anything, and still be their best.”
While the challenges of not having home courts could have weighed the team down, some players found the light in the face of adversity. Senior star, Landon Osswald said that the constant travel actually created memories that made this season uniquely enjoyable. “A surprising positive about [the remodeling] is that it created moments that have made this season better than other years. Since we always have to take a bus to wherever we play, I always bring a speaker and blast music that we will all sing along to, before and after the matches, which is really fun and enjoyable. It’s brought something special into our team this season.”
The district also had more in mind than just the current roster. According to planning documents, the remodel will add new lighting fixtures, resurfaced and freshly painted courts, and expanded seating with full ADA accessibility — creating a modern, welcoming facility for years to come.
One player highlighted the benefits of the upgrades: “I think the new lights will give us an advantage other schools don’t have. On hot days, instead of canceling, we’ll be able to practice later when it’s cooler. We also won’t have to stretch matches across multiple days, since we can now finish under the lights.”
This season carries a significance that goes beyond wins and losses. It represents a lasting chapter for the players who endured it and helps shape the foundation for future generations of Royals tennis. While challenges have piled up this season, the team’s mindset has helped ease the pressure. As coach Gertner put it, “Just one more hurdle to this season…and one more reason why we will make this season great.”
