TOURNAMENTS
For 2019 Midwest Outdoor Chamipionships
Outdoor Championships showed me that I am getting closer to another big leap. I started off against a top 25 seed (UTR of 9) out of the 128 person field and was only down 3-2 and lost 6-2, 6-1, but every time I was serving came close to winning the game so easily could have been like 6-4, 6-4 loss. Then played doubles and lost 9-8 and battled some wrist soreness and short rain delays but we were on the verge of taking a match vs superior opponents. Then the last match lost against a girl that score doesn't show it, but I was in each and every single game to deuce but couldn't close any of them out.
For marian Baird Cup
I wasn't one of the top players on the team, but rain prevented me from doing more matches as they shortened things up. First day played #6 singles and lost 6-0, 6-0 and then played #3 doubles and won 6-0 against a decent Ohio team, but couldn't continue the luck in #6 singles there as lost 6-1, 6-2. I was in most games, but couldn't capitalize. I wasn't able to play anything on Saturday, but played 1 more doubles match on Sunday against same 2nd Ohio team. They rearranged the doubles team and we lost 6-2, but each game was in it just couldn't put it away.
For Outdoor Championship Qualifier:
Went 4-1 to finish in 5th place and qualify for the Midwest Outdoor Championship. First 4 girls that I faced were all from Bloomington. First match won 6-3, 6-0, then lost 6-2, 6-2. Next day came back with wins of 6-3, 6-3 and 6-2, 6-3. Then on the 3rd and final day beat a girl from Dunlap by the score of 6-1, 6-2 to take 5th place.
From 2018 Effingham tournament in the final faced a girl who I have never beaten before and lost to 6-2, 6-0 at qualifier when gassed, but beat her in a supertiebreaker as won 4-6, 6-4, 10-7.
Decatur tournament won first 2 matches to set up a rematch against a girl I won in a supertiebreaker at the Qualifier (who is ranked in the top 1000). I got off to a slow start losing the first 3 games, but then took control to win 7-5, 6-2.
Ed Yarborough (Jasper, IN) tournament First match won 6-0, 6-0 and then won 6-4, 6-3 (against a girl just outside the top 1000 on the ranking list) to make it to the semifinal against a girl with a UTR of 7 (2 points higher). Although the score doesn't quite show it, I was right there for most of the match with lots of games going to deuce. I lost 6-2, 6-0 but did believe that I am on the right path as Indiana has their season is in the Spring so still strong where I am getting ready for my season. Lots of positives to build off of.
Outdoor Qualifier For 16's I finished 3-2 for the tournament. First match I was overmatched and then I was too strong for the next opponent. 3rd and 4th matches were more of a challenge as 3rd match came back from behind from 6-3, 5-1 to win the next 6 games to force supertiebreaker and fell behind 9-5 to then win the next 6 points. 4th match (girl top 1000 on rankings list) came back from losing first set 6-4 to win 6-3 and then win supertiebreaker 10-6. Unfortunately I was gassed for the final match as won the first 2 games but had nothing left. So although I have improved my endurance and all of that, there is room for improvement.
HIGH SCHOOL
As a Sophomore Went 29-8 in the top doubles flight which included some Chicagoland schools. And 14-2 at #2 singles (only loss came in 3 sets and the other in a close match against a larger Chicagoland team). This year I have a new partner and we did not have a good first match where we lost 6-2, 6-2. Then beat Peoria Notre Dame 6-1, 6-1 and then beat Champaign Central 6-2, 6-2. In the final match beat a school near Chicago 6-4, 6-0 to tie for 5th place out of 16 schools. So although we have a lot of work to still do, I like how we started out the season. We then proceeded to go 2-1 at the St. Anthony Invite to finish in 3rd place only losing in the semifinals to the eventual champion in a super tiebreaker. We will get our revenge later on in the year. We went 3-1 to finish in 2nd place at Springfield to beat a quality team from AA in the semis (our best overall match together) 6-1, 6-3 only to run out of gas in the final 6-2, 6-2, but we will get stronger as the season goes along. We also won the Alton tournament being after a bye won 6-0, 6-1 against Collinsville, 6-4, 6-2 against Triad and 6-2, 6-0 against Bethalto in the final. Champaign Chargers Doubles tournament another one of those tournaments heavily loaded with schools from AA. We started off with Bloomington Central Catholic and lost 7-6 (11-9), 7-6 (7-5). They ended up winning the championship in a Super Tiebreaker. We however went to consolation and beat AA school from Champaign 6-1, 6-2. We then proceeded to beat another AA school from Normal 6-4, 6-4. Bloomington Purple and Gold Invite Doubles on Friday and Singles on Saturday made for a long weekend with cold windy conditions. Doubles we won against AA Bloomington 6-3, 6-1. Then we won against one of the top A teams of Bloomington Central Catholic 2-6, 7-6, 10-6. Set up a semifinal against AA Danville, but lost in a supertiebreaker 6-4, 2-6, 10-8. Playing for 3rd place had yet another supertiebreaker where we lost 5-7, 7-6, 10-8 against AA Normal team. Although was exhausted had to come back for singles on Saturday. I won first match 6-3, 6-1 against a girl from AA Centennial to lose to AA girl from outside of Chicago 6-3, 6-4. Then beat AA girl from Normal 6-0, 6-1 and then another AA from a different Normal school 6-1, 6-3 to finish in 5th place. Well due to the rain on Friday everything for Sectionals was played on Saturday. We didn't get started until some teams finished their second match due to first opponent match having to get on court due to some still wet. So it meant 4 matches basically in just the afternoon/evening. We won 6-1, 6-1 first match and then in the quarterfinal won 6-4, 6-0. This set up a tough semifinal with Teutopolis, but both sets after being down 3-0 came back to win 6-4, 6-4. This set up the epic final that even after a long day ended up lasting 3 hours! We ended up losing 7-6 (7-0), 6-7 (7-4), 5-7. So now onto State for hopefully another deep run.
From Freshman year -We were excited going into the State tournament having won the Sectionals. We have played 1/3 of the other Sectional Champions and won 4 times (albeit one close and the other at the beginning of the season) and losing to one other team twice (both being in Supertiebreakers). We were seeded in the top 16. We had a slow start in first match after coach got a little lost and got there shortly before match but won 6-3, 6-1. We then won 6-2, 6-0. Friday started off with a win over a team seeded higher than us, but we won 6-2, 6-4. This guaranteed us a spot Saturday but our 2nd and last match was up against the #1 seed and we lost 6-0, 6-1. We then won 6-4, 6-3 to have a rematch with the team we beat Friday only to lose 6-3, 6-4 to finish in a tie for 7th place. Our team in scoring finished 6th after being as high as tied for 2nd after winning the first match Friday. So very excited to go 4-2 and a great team finish as a Freshman, although I am sad to be losing my partner.
My overall record for all matches was 139-32 including State and tournaments. 38-5 in singles play mainly playing #2 singles and 101-27 in top doubles. But I know that I can beat some of the top players from other teams. All 3 years finished 4-2 at State and first team All State. Once top 8 and team finished 6th as Freshman and finished top 12 as a Sophomore and team finished 8th and Junior finished top 8 and team finished 5th. PACT is a 26.
TENNIS CAMPS
MSITA This competitive training is once a month for 4 hours against some of the best 18 & under boys and girls in the southern half of the state. Not only was I invited as a 14 year old, but I gave them a fight as I beat a girl in a shortened match that I never have beaten before (haven't won that many games since I was 10 against her) and also won both of my doubles matches that included some 18 year old decent players. Lots of good drill work to help improve what I already do.
