The defending state runner-up girls tennis team won three of their four matches at their home tournament Sept. 5, prior to the tournament being postponed due to weather.
After a successful season last year, head coach McKenzie Weishaar said she wants the team to remember their goals, but focus on the present too.
“The last three years, they have come home with three state trophies,” Weishaar said. “That is in the back of our minds, but we just want to take it one meet at a time and go out there and have fun, but we also want to win.”
Seniors Addison and Mallory Renfro, who placed fifth at state last season, won their first doubles match of the tournament 8-1.
“We held every serve every time and did not make a lot of errors,” Addison Renfro said. “We had good volleys and good net play. We did good moving our feet.”
Addison and Mallory Renfro, two of three triplets, are also joined on the team by their sister Claire Renfro.
Addison Renfro said playing with her sister is a special dynamic.
“We do everything together,” she said. “We have been plating for so long that I know what she is going to do and she knows what I am going to do.”
Senior Kinsley Foth is joined on the team by her twin sister senior, Cadence Foth. However Kinsley Foth has a different relationship with her sister.
“We usually do not play together,” Kinsley Foth said, “but it has been awesome to have my sister on the team with me.”
Cadence Foth quit tennis after eighth grade and rejoined the team this year for her senior season.
“I thought it was a good idea for her,” Kinsley Foth said. “I think it was a good way for her to come out and get outside.”
Kinsley Foth plays doubles with Claire Renfro, however last season Kinsley Foth had a season-ending injury and junior Brooke Banninger played at the state tournament with Claire Renfro where they placed 10th.
Despite only playing doubles in the past, Banninger took the court playing singles on Sept. 5.
“I am getting used to it and I think I did a pretty good job serving,” Banninger said. “We have been working on that a lot in practice, and I got some good momentum and good first serves.”
Banninger has used her state experience from last year to her benefit this season so far.
“It motivates me a lot knowing there is the possibility to go to state again,” Banninger said. “It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot from it.”
Weishaar wants the team to use their experience to work towards the big meets at the end of the season.
“We just take it one at a time,” Weishaar said. “Then ultimately reach our peak at the end of the season during league, regionals and then at state.”
