Girls'+Tennis

 =Sisterhood serves wins = By Lauren Benish Features Editor

If you hear Nelly’s “Heart of a Champion” blaring from the tennis courts, then you know that that the Girls Tennis Team is preparing for another victory. All of the players gather around a toy rake during a pep talk from the captain as just one of the many rituals the team has carried on for years. According to Coach Mr. Facemyre, the most important tradition is that, “All of the girls have dedication and purpose. Without fail they are always determined to do the best they can be to be good sports, and to represent the Burrell Community at the highest level.”

For three years, Facemyre has led the Girls Tennis team through countless matches and practices. Every year he instructs the team, he explained, “The girl’s tennis team attracts some of the most motivated, dedicated, and positive young ladies in Burrell High School. It’s a pleasure to help them in their quest to win the section title.”

Last season, the team was undefeated until their match against Valley for the section title. Based on the games so far this season, the Vikings are shaping up to be their rival once again. Team captain, Senior Alina Phillips assured, “This year we’re very focused on winning the section title back from Valley because they were the only team that beat us last year. So we’re really focused on practicing hard and making every point count.”

Although the team is disenchanted by last year’s loss, they won’t let it affect their work ethic. Phillips explained, “Everyone has put all of their effort into everything, every point, and doing the best that they can to win the title back this year, even though we lost a lot of starters this season.”

As of the Valley match on September 16th, the girls beat their rival because of their hard work. Unlike in the past, the players are not evenly distributed throughout the class levels. Facemyre elucidated, “We have six returning seniors this year who are all starters, and the rest of the team is equally made up of sophomores and freshmen, no juniors. Next year will be a new experience.”

The starting seniors on the team are Alina Philips (First Singes), Lauren Ockree (First Doubles), Hannah Feroce (Second Singles), Kristi Smith and Jessa Manga (Second Doubles), and Maria Jacob (Third Singles). Additionally playing for the team are Sophomores Caroline McCallister, Maddie Pattock, Lisa Wood, and Rachel Wilson (First Doubles), who is the only underclassman starter, and Freshmen April Clark, Emily Feroce, Jessica Linza, and Domenica Trozzi. Along with the new freshmen, another new edition to the team is manager Sophomore Amber Bowser.

Their success comes not only from the hard work and dedication they show at each practice but also from the bonds that all of the girls have. Phillips insistsed, “It’s important that we get along to avoid as much drama as possible with the team because it makes it easier to practice. It’s important to support each other. We are friends on and off court.”

Each year, the team hosts a sleepover in the fall where they collectively decide who next year’s captain will be. Since they are all great friends, they all seem to share the same weakness which is not really a fault.

Facemyre described, “There’s a difficult balance between mental toughness and being kind, considerate people. They’re always apologizing to the other people when things are going too well their way. They feel compelled to be nice.”

Even though Facemyre jokes about how sportsmanly they are to each other, he added, “Often times, the players are harder on themselves then they need to be. Their perception says that they don’t do enough but I see them working hard. They never give up; I see that they practice from the time they go onto the court until they come off. And we have some of the most dedicated sports’ parents at Burrell High School. Most of the varsity parents are there at every match, but we could use more student support.”

So next time you see the girls playing on the courts, go watch!