Cony girls tennis’ windy-day drill, perfect playlist, and other things we learned at practice

Members of Cony’s tennis team work on foot work during practice Thursday at Buker Community Center courts in Augusta. (Anna Chadwick/Staff Photographer) Purchase this image

Varsity Maine reporters ventured out Thursday to visit Cony tennis, Cape Elizabeth girls lacrosse and Poland track and field preseason practices. Here’s what we learned at Cony:

AUGUSTA — Kira Gregor finally has her explosiveness back. That’s why a drill the Cony junior and No. 1 girls tennis singles player did Thursday made her particularly happy.

A windy afternoon practice for the Rams included a cone drill that put players’ feet to the test. Gregor and her teammates had to shuffle past one cone, then behind it, then hit a shot. Rinse and repeat for two cones, then three. Then, it was the next player’s turn.

“It’s so cool to be able to move that quickly again and to be able to use those skills not just in a drill but in a match,” said Gregor, a Varsity Maine All-State selection in 2024 who missed all of last year with an ACL tear. “I got to do a little bit of instructing and coaching (last year), but obviously it hurt because I really, really wanted to be out here.”

The drill is meant to improve players’ footwork, something coach Kirk Cooper has emphasized more this spring.

Here are a few other things we learned at Cony’s practice Thursday at the Buker Recreation Center courts:

• Another reason Cony turned to a footwork drill? The wind. Gusts over 30 mph in the capital city were impossible to ignore, and Cooper was less inclined to focus on serving drills due to how the ball carried.

Still, Cony players had to hit the ball. When they did, senior and No. 2 singles player Lilah Goldey said, a different kind of approach was necessary.

“(It’s about) just being safer with your balls and not going for too much,” Goldey said. “With the wind, if you hit it flat, it’s going to take it flying.”

• A portable loudspeaker placed at the end of the courts played hit songs from the 2010s. That included “Break Your Heart” by Taio Cruz (featuring Ludacris), “International Love” by Pitbull (featuring Chris Brown) and “All the Stars” by SZA and Kendrick Lamar.

The playlist was the product of Cony junior Olivia Folsom and senior Lucy Lord, a doubles duo that Goldey and Gregor agreed can always be trusted with the music. One song was particularly fitting.

“‘Tennis Court’ by Lorde,” Gregor said. “That’s so appropriate.”