St. Mary's Ryken Names Clara Hayward as Head Coach of the Tennis Program

 

St. Mary’s Ryken is pleased to announce Clara Hayward as the new head coach of the tennis program. Coach Hayward, who also serves as a visual art teacher at St. Mary’s Ryken, brings a lifelong passion for tennis and a strong commitment to developing student-athletes both on and off the court.

Coach Hayward began playing tennis at approximately 5 years old, competed throughout her school years, and has remained active in the sport as an adult.

“We are excited to have Clara lead our tennis program,” said Steve Howes, St. Mary’s Ryken Director of Athletics. “As a member of our faculty, she already understands our students and the mission of St. Mary’s Ryken. Her enthusiasm for tennis, combined with her focus on hard work, sportsmanship and creating a positive team culture, will make her a tremendous leader for our student-athletes.”

As head coach, Coach Hayward plans to emphasize individual development while building a competitive, team-centered program.

“One of my biggest goals is to create a team culture where the student-athletes feel supported, challenged and excited to improve,” Coach Hayward said. “Of course I want us to be competitive and successful, but I also want the players to understand that success isn’t measured only by wins and losses. Effort, work ethic, sportsmanship, consistency and being a good teammate are all incredibly important to me.”

Coach Hayward’s goal is to meet each student-athlete where they are at the beginning of the season and help them take the next step, whether they are an experienced competitor or relatively new to tennis.

“I want to build a team that works hard, supports one another and genuinely enjoys being on the court,” Coach Hayward said. “Most of all, I want the student-athletes to finish the season as stronger, more confident players and with a positive experience they’ll remember.”

Coach Hayward will begin her role immediately as preparations for the upcoming girls' season continue.

For more information about the SMR tennis program, please contact athletics@smrhs.org. For more information about the SMR athletics program, please visit www.smrhs.org/athletics.