Featured News - Current News - Archived News - News Categories
Tennis Team Nets Some Positives This Season
The Mount Mercy Tennis Team's season did not exactly go as the coach and team had hoped, but there were plenty of positives that occurred this season. Anticipation was high with a new coach and some key returning players, but the inclement spring weather dampened expectations.
" One of our goals was to end with
a league record of 3-6, however we did not. In my opinion, much of this was
weather-related. Due to poor conditions, we were not able to get outside to
practice until April and even then on both occasions it was very cold and
snowing," Coach Jill Whalen commented. "However, another goal was for the team
members to enjoy themselves and develop a love of the game. I believe we
accomplished this goal."
One of the
highlights of the season for Whalen was that her team always displayed
sportsmanship and played with integrity and grace. She felt that there were
opponents who lacked this and that the Magic always showed class, followed the
rules, and were welcoming to other teams.
Sophomore Madelyn DiGiore
(Lakeview) and senior Sophie Robinson (Buffalo) both finished with the top
individual records this season. Along
with senior Paige Siebold (West Seneca) these three players were the team's
captains and demonstrated excellent leadership throughout the season. Siebold and Robinson, who played doubles
together for the past few years willingly played singles when the team needed
them, demonstrating that they are the epitome of team players.
Sophomore
Emily Howard (Buffalo) and seniors Kayleigh Mighells (Lackawanna) and Kate
Marabella (Cheektowaga) always gave their all and embraced a sport that was new
to them, improving throughout the season.
Whalen noted that the four seniors
would be greatly missed. She stated that
Marabella and Mighells were very positive players and their skills grew
tremendously from start to the end of the season. Robinson and Siebold were both four year
members of the team and their dedication to the team and the sport never went
unnoticed. "These two ladies showed me and the entire team what it means to be
a flexible player who possesses a true love of the game despite individual
match outcomes," Whalen remarked.
DiGiore, the team's first singles
player for the past two seasons will return to the team for the third year next
spring and Whalen is excited to see her progress after ten months of off season
practice.