Comment: Three-hour match tests reporter's mettle

As with any other road trip, I gathered the necessary supplies — snacks, bottled water and sunscreen — before heading to the Class 3A-District 12 tournament April 4.

After missing the first day of competition because of deadline, I arrived just in time for a full slate of singles finals and doubles semifinals and finals.

My day of fun in the sun was about to begin.

As I made my way around the courts, checking in with the coaches on the previous day’s successes, I noticed a crowd gathering around one of the courts.

I continued snapping photos and making notes of all the action before heading over to the scorer’s table. While I jotted down the results, a wave of cheers washed through the courts.

I glanced up to see Lakewood Ranch’s Arnav Mohanty playing Bayshore’s Pedro Garcia in the No. 1 boys singles final. The Lakewood Ranch boys and girls teams had gathered together to watch Mohanty, while a good portion of the remaining players had gathered together on the other side to cheer on Garcia, the lone Bruin to advance to the second day of competition.

Finally, with my notes in hand, I walked over to the court to catch some of the action. I watched the ball volley back and forth as the two players battled.

It didn’t take long for the exhaustion to set in. Yes, I was hot just watching them.

By that point, the temperature already had risen into the upper 80s, and the sun was hanging in the sky relentlessly. When I drove down to Charlotte earlier that morning, I didn’t anticipate watching a nearly three-hour singles tennis match.

In the end, the heat and fatigue got the best of Mohanty, who lost the match’s two final sets. After shaking hands, the two players walked off the court to rest and recuperate.

And after three hours of watching the intense play and exhaustion, I was ready to join them.