Delaine Mast has been coaching tennis at McCaskey for 40 years.
"I see what tennis and sports does for kids. It changes people's lives and keeps them on a path to be healthy and active," Mast said.
Junior Hunter Nguyen says Mast inspires him.
"She helps motivate me to keep my head up during a match."
Nguyen, who played Number 3 singles last year, credits his father with getting him started in the game.
"Ever since I was little, my Dad would bring me to the tennis court and hit balls. I fell in love with it," Nguyen said.
Nguyen has some personal and team goals heading into this season. He'd like to advance to the Lancaster-Lebanon League finals. As for the team, he hopes the Tornadoes "make it to states." He hopes the team can compete for a league title.
Nguyen likes to come to the net and "wants to work on his serve and backhand." I want to stay positive, keep my feet moving and try not to overthink."
He calls Ben Shelton his favorite professional player. Off the court, he likes math and aspires to be a doctor.
Mast is proud of her players' accomplishments in the classroom as well as on the court. She says, "We've had a 100% graduation rate."
Mast has plenty of accomplishments herself, becoming the first female coach in the Lancaster-Lebanon League to coach a boys varsity team as well as the girls.
She has served as national director of Billie Jean KIng's World Team Tennis Recreational Leagues. She's been inducted into the USTA Middle States Tennis Hall of Fame.
Her players like Hunter Nguyen call her a role model, "She's an icon."
