The 2025 tennis season has begun, and the Bobcats are dominating on the court. In 2024, the men finished off the season with a 13-5 record, placing them 12th in NJCAA Division I, while the women achieved an unprecedented 22-0 record, finishing seventh at the national championship. To replicate that success, they focus on more than just tennis techniques.
Jones College tennis coach Brooks Buffington aims for both men’s and women’s teams to win the Wayne Regionals and Championship. Additionally, both teams have set their own goals, with the women aiming for top seven or eight at nationals, and the men aiming for top ten. But team results are not Coach Buffington’s only priority; he also wants to foster a close-knit bond among his players.
“I want their experience to be the best it can be,” said Buffington. His coaching emphasizes collective success, and his collegiate tennis player awards prove that. Buffington was awarded the Jones Bobcat Award as a sophomore. He earned the Mississippi College’s Choctaw Award in his junior and senior years, which he described as “essentially the team player award.”
“I don’t talk about individuals. When we play matches it’s about you taking care of your court because it’s a point for the team,” said Buffington. For him, fostering a family-oriented culture is key to building a strong team, and returning player Molly Bennett agrees, expressing that she enjoys spending time with both the men’s and women’s teams.
“We all want to do what’s best for each other. We tell each other what we need to hear, not what we want to hear,” Bennett said. Moreover, Bennett shares the anticipation and excitement that she and her teammates feel as they look ahead to the season.
“I’m feeling pretty confident, especially with last year, whenever we came off a big win. But we also have tougher competition like Gulf Coast,” Bennett said. Last season Mississippi Gulf Coast men placed 15th at NJCAA and the women tied 12th with Weatherford.
Buffington shares Bennett’s sentiments but emphasizes his teams’ greatest strength being their depth.
“As the lineup goes down, we’re strong, which means depth,” said Buffington. He believes that his players are already competing at a high level and the main thing is to continually keep improving, and one crucial area for growth is mentality.
Buffington explains when both sides have similar skill levels, those matches hinge on mental toughness. This allows players to keep calm and play strategically, and according to Bennett, this is where the teams excel.
“I would say our biggest strength is our determination on the court,” said Bennett. “We’re very controlled whenever we get angry or upset with ourselves, and I think that’s a huge key, especially in tennis because if you show your opponent weakness, it’ll just make it easier for them to beat you.”
Buffington is confident in this year’s lineup, highlighting returnee Matias Ruiz as his most anticipated player on the men’s team and returnee Helen Hernandez on the women’s. The other returning players include Alex Holder, Ethin McKinnon and Brooks Newell for the men’s team, as well as Molly Bennett, Annabelle Simmons and Ansley Tomkins for the women’s team.
Additionally, this year’s newcomers include Ridge Jones, Ryan Roth, Reese Touchet and Luke Westmoreland on the men’s team and Theresa Emilio, Hannah Hupe, Maria Martinez and Josie Tullos on the women’s team. Furthermore, Buffington is looking forward to seeing how international recruits Diego Castellanos, Tom Garrett, Theresa Emelio and Maria Martinez will perform this season.
“We have those different qualities that other teams don’t have, so I think in the long run, we’ll win,” said Bennett. “We’re all just really excited.”
A new season brings new faces and shifting team dynamics, but one thing remains the same, the Bobcats are driven to succeed.
by Destiny Velasco
