Girls’ tennis reflects on successful season
Team eagerly looks toward future
October 27, 2017
The varsity tennis team closed out the 2018 season with a regular season record of 11-3 and were seated six out of 16 teams in the Section tournament, according to varisty coach David Breitenbucher.
“We played (in the) first round Minneapolis-Washburn, and we beat them 6-1. We were the favorites, so that went as expected,” Breitenbucher said. “Second round we played Eastview, and we were the underdog, and we lost to 5-2,” Breitenbucher said. “We won one double and four singles (games).”
Senior captain Maddie Lund said the seniors on the team were keenly aware of the time they spent together during their Sections matches.
“We were all super sad this was the last time we would be playing, so that kind of factored in. I know for Greta and I and Mimi and Susanna, it was the first time we’ve ever been to Sections, so for us it was less about winning and more about the experience,” Lund said.
Senior captain Hanna Schechter said her favorite parts of the season include the fun experiences with her team, the challenging matches and helping her teammates improve their game.
“For me, this season was more challenging because I jumped from playing two singles to playing one,” Schechter said. “Before you would go to the captain (for advice), but now I’m the captain, so I would give my advice, and it was really fun to work with girls, not only playing with them on the court, but also helping them play better.”
While reflecting on the season, Lund said she gained valuable leadership experience for both on and off the court.
“As a captain, I really learned a ton about leadership (and) how much effort it takes. You really need to be patient and focused, which helped me become a better person,” Lund said. “I learned that it’s okay to mess up because you will always have another point to get back.”
Schechter said she was proud of the team for their level of performance this season.
“We won every every single match except for the matches that were really, really challenging. We played a lot of good teams, and we came out winning which I thought was really amazing,” Schechter said. “Wherever we had the opportunity to try our hardest and do our best we did, and I’m really proud of that.”
Lund said she enjoyed getting to know her teammates throughout the season.
“We did a team bonding at (Lake) Calhoun earlier in September where we brought a bunch of snacks, blankets and hammocks, and we all just sat out listening to music talking on a pretty Sunday afternoon,” Lund said. “We got to know some of the players who are on JV and on the freshmen team. I loved getting closer to people who you don’t really see everyday or at every match.”
Breitenbucher said he is proud of the team’s performance and how the team continues to improve.
“Being in the top third (in Sections) is a pretty big accomplishment for a school like us. Years ago we would be 12 or 13,” Breitenbucher said. “The program is definitely really heading in the right direction. I think we keep playing on the offseason, girls keep improving and maybe we can crack the semi-finals next year.”
