Playing as part of a doubles pairing in tennis is arguably the best lesson about the values and benefits of teamwork. For Teagan Ariyan, she has harnessed the superb skill set to pick up any court cohort–whether it be a partner or an entire club.

The Hand senior played several sports growing up before picking up a racquet around the age of 10. She later continued with the sport through the Madison Swim and Racquet Club. After trying out for the Tigers girls’ tennis team as a freshman, Teagan has been a mainstay in the doubles’ division–playing all three slots over her career and assuming the role of captain this spring for the defending Class M State champions who are out to a 6-4 start.

“I love the people you meet through tennis. I started playing with my family, and the team at Hand is something I have never experienced before. It has been an unreal experience and a great network of people. We pick each other up, have team huddles before matches to pump each other up, and have great coaches,” says Teagan. “It can be tough when you are losing in doubles and one of you is having a hard time and making mistakes. As a partner, you need to be there for them and pick them up. But it is an amazing feeling when you both go through something like that together.”

While she has worked her way up to the top team on Hand’s doubles lineup as a senior, it is her sophomore run with returning partner in junior Juliana Jorens. She details that in that tenure, they have really gotten to know each other’s tendencies quite well to help fuel their success.

“I have played doubles each season here, but when you play singles, you are never truly by yourself because you have your team cheering you on,” Teagan says. “I have had the same partner the last two years with Juliana. You create a solid bond with your partner, and you truly get to know them and how well you both work together.”

When it comes to the action on the court, though, Teagan takes a bit of a spot in the background with her arsenal of moves. She explains that she would like to become a more well-rounded competitor by bringing her maneuvers more to the forefront.

“I play backhand in doubles while Juliana does more forehand, so I would say I am very strong with my back hand,” says Teagan. “Going forward, I would like to improve playing at the net more and work on my volleys. Those things are a big part of playing doubles.”

In assuming a leadership role, Teagan strives to emulate her predecessors when she arrived on the Tigers’ campus courts. She may have felt some trepidation by merely being astounded by their acumen as athletes and stewards, though it inspired her to be the teammate she is today.

“When I was a freshman, I had the most amazing captains which could be intimidating to some, but they were very inclusive to everyone,” says Teagan. “It can be harder now because we have a lot more people on the team than we did then. It can be challenging to break through to all of them. We try to include everyone and do ghost matches on the court after the varsity matches have wrapped up.”

The Tigers had to take down a formidable foe they had become familiar with to garner the gold last spring after Stonington had taken them down for the 2022 crown. Teagan reflects after a regular season defeat, she felt some fright heading into the state final, but she channeled it quite well to take flight.

“During the season last year, we lost to Stonington, so Juliana and I went into the final a bit terrified, but we did not want to think that way,” Teagan says. “Her and I played our best match together that day in the state final. It was so rewarding to win the match, get those points for our team, and then of course to hear us announced as state champions.”

Playing under pressure is something that has become synonymous with Teagan since the first day she stepped onto the court. Head Coach John Gage details that she shook off any fears and played right through it all.

“Teagan is the ultimate team player. She was thrust into the lineup at No. 3 doubles after the first week of the 2022 season. Teagan was primarily a singles player but was willing to give it a shot and did a terrific job for us,” says Gage. “So many matches that season came down to her and her partner, so it was a lot of pressure. Last year, she played No. 2 doubles and worked so hard to build a strong on-court relationship with her partner Juliana Jorens. They have moved to No. 1 doubles together this season and have been playing great in that high pressure role. As a captain, Teagan is very well organized and on top of things. She leads by example and is a pleasure to coach.”

Tennis is a grind that can certainly become personal when it comes to producing proficiency. Teagan conveys the message that the best and most durable players, along with the top teams, are ones who operate on a short memory and never stop moving forward.

“I tell everyone before each match that we have to have a goldfish mindset and forget any mistakes made,” says Teagan. “That is big because tennis is a lot about mental space, so if you stay down, you won't be able to come back in a match. You have to pick yourself up and move on, and that is something we do every match.”