For most freshmen, joining a varsity team filled with seniors can be intimidating. The pace is faster, the expectations higher, and the gap in experience almost always noticeable. Yet for Westside’s Taylor Tauber, his first season on the Warriors’ boys varsity tennis team has been less about nerves and more about growth, belonging, and a love for the game that stretches far beyond the lines of a court.
“Something that I have learned from the upperclassmen this year is that tennis is more than just a sport,” Taylor reflected. “Having fun with your teammates and playing the sport for the love of it will always be something I now value, and have learned.”
That lesson has been central to Taylor’s transition. Instead of being overwhelmed by the jump to varsity, he’s embraced the camaraderie and support of his senior-heavy team. The freshman describes the Warriors as more than just a group of athletes — to him, they’re a family. “Something that stands out to me about the Westside tennis team is the morality and the interconnectivity that I feel with all of my teammates,” he said. “Our team feels like a safe space for me and provides a great sense of belonging.”
Head coach Kim Miksich, in her first year at the helm of the program, has seen that bond firsthand. “Taylor has adapted pretty seamlessly with a senior-heavy team,” Miksich said. “He has a level of maturity as a freshman that I sometimes forget he is the youngest kid on the team. There is typically quite a gap between freshman and seniors, but this team has come together and bonded as a team really well.”
That maturity has already paid dividends in competition. In a tough dual against Elkhorn North, when the Warriors were down three regular starters, Tauber rose to the challenge. Playing #3 singles, he turned in one of the team’s most reliable performances, cruising to an 8-3 win. He also paired with senior Haorong Li at #1 doubles, where the duo secured another point with an 8-4 victory. Despite the short-handed lineup, Westside narrowly fell 5-4, but Tauber’s presence was a steadying force.
The team bounced back quickly in their next outing, sweeping Millard South 9-0. Tauber’s effort at #2 singles contributed to the statement win, which showed both the team’s depth and the freshman’s consistency under pressure. He also recently played in the Millard North Invite at #2 singles, finishing runner-up in his bracket, another marker of his quick adjustment to varsity competition.
“Taylor came on as a freshman with expectations already on his shoulder, which isn’t an easy position to be in,” Miksich explained. “He has fearlessly taken on the role of the new freshman, but I’ve also seen him follow the lead of some of the older, experienced guys and learn from them.”
That willingness to learn, paired with a self-motivated drive, has made Taylor a player who not only contributes now but shows promise of being a cornerstone for the team in years to come. “I see Taylor developing into a leader on this team throughout his time at Westside,” Miksich added. “He is already quite disciplined and has the respect of his teammates. He spends quite a bit of time on the court outside of practice and it’s reflected in his play. He’s only going to get stronger mentally and physically, and if he stays healthy that’s going to make him a big threat.”
One of the main areas Taylor has focused on this season has been adapting his game. Though naturally a singles player, he began the year in the #1 doubles spot, which required him to quickly learn new strategies and adjust his style. Over the course of the season, lineup changes shifted him back into his comfort zone as the Warriors’ #2 singles player heading into Metro and State. Along the way, his serve — a crucial weapon — has grown sharper with small tweaks under Coach Miksich’s guidance.
“Taylor has a strong foundation, so we’ve really only worked on tweaking his serve a bit, and it’s really improved over the course of the season,” she said. “We’ll work on staying mentally strong through every match, which is the hardest part of the game for top level players. He’s already shown a lot of grit and fortitude.”
That grit has already been on display. From a second-place finish at the Millard North Invite, to a clutch doubles win with Li against Elkhorn North, to his singles victory in the same dual, Tauber has shown he can deliver on both the big and small stages.
For Taylor, the lessons of tennis extend beyond results and trophies. One of the most valuable pieces of advice he’s taken from Coach Miksich is simple but vital: focus on the next point. “Short-term memory loss can be key in most matches,” he explained. It’s a mindset that keeps him grounded, resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead.
“I’m very confident in his ability to be a pillar of the Westside team over the next few years,” Miksich said. “I’m very excited to see what he will do and accomplish. He’s off to a great start!”
For now, Taylor’s story is only beginning. A freshman with maturity beyond his years, a love for the game, and a growing role on a team filled with experienced leaders, he embodies what it means to be both a student of the sport and a teammate. His journey promises not just wins on the court, but lasting impact on Westside tennis.
