While some coaches would be nervous about moving up a division, Coach Risch was excited. She saw the potential in the team and was still hoping to be back at the State Championships, despite playing harder teams.
BY ABBY JAMES
Just three years ago, the Coventry Girl’s Tennis Team was excited to win two matches because it was two more than the year before. Due to the rough two years in division two, the team moved down to division three during the 2012 season.
Entering a new division with a hardworking attitude earned the girl’s a spot in the State Championships. Unfortunately, they lost in a close match of 4-3, against Mount Hope. During the 2013 season, the girl’s made it to the Semi-Finals and were again defeated by the Mount Hope team.
Not discouraged by these loses, the team was eager to earn a spot at the championships again. The team’s outstanding record during the last two seasons, allowed the Coventry Girls to move up to Division Two in the 2014 season.
While some coaches would be nervous about moving up a division, Coach Risch was excited. She saw the potential in the team and was still hoping to be back at the State Championships, despite playing harder teams. With a 9-4 record, and a spot in playoffs, the girl’s looked liked they could reach this goal.
Throughout the season, the team beat many teams they had lost to in the past few years, who also moved up, and their biggest competition was with their new Division Two competition.
Cumberland was one of these teams, beating Coventry in a very close match during the regular season. The team got a chance for revenge during the quarter finals, when they seized the opportunity and advanced to the semi-finals, and knocked Cumberland out of the Playoffs. In the Semi-Finals, Coventry played the undefeated team of South Kingston and unfortunately they were defeated. Though disappointed, neither the team or Coach Risch were too upset because they realized how far they had come in the last few years.
The team pulled together this year with strong singles players on top, and extremely talented and consistent doubles players supporting the team. It was these doubles teams made up of Shannon Oliver, Courtney James, Lisa Thiele, Jess Horibin, Sarah Greene and Sydney Cardoza, who were able to pull the team through when the singles players lost their matches.
Fourth Singles player Maddie Sharkey, consistently won her match and was often the fourth win accompanying the doubles. Tough matches were always played by the singles players, Abby James, Brenna Mckaig, and Jamie Trautman, who although did not always win, played their best in order to help the team.
Though the team did not reach the State Finals, they should be proud of themselves and recognize how much they have grown as a team and individual players. As the team loses six seniors, the rest of the team says goodbye but is eager to try to reach the finals again next year!
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