Standout Doubles Team Wraps Up Undefeated Season

The AHS girls tennis team wrapped up its season this year with a winning record of 17-4. Several stand-outs helped in the team’s success.

The doubles team of Olivia George and Maddie Summers ended the season undefeated with a record of 21-0. Both are juniors playing their third year season on the girls tennis team. Coach Steve Cabassa had prepared them for the tournaments, teaching them strategies for doubles competition, and how to evaluate their opponents. 

Cabassa said he was proud of their success because he had seen how hard they worked, putting in time, effort, and patience for the past three years. 

The coach also saw progress in junior Brooke McDermitt, who ended the season with a 15-5 record. She played on the JV team her freshman year and first doubles last year, but decided she was more suited for singles.

Still, she had to overcome her nerves and gain confidence, working non-stop to build up her skills in preparation for the tournament. It worked. She placed third overall at the Net Tournament.

Alyssa White, the team captain for the past three years, also played singles along with Jillian Lohnes. Rounding out the team were doubles players Natalie Hinkel and Misty McMasters.

Alyssa encouraged her teammates every day to push themselves to get better.  Cabassa said he was proud of all his seniors this year because whether they played on the JV or varsity teams, they were mentors to the younger players.

“I wish you good luck,” was his message to the seniors. “If you work as hard in life as you did on the tennis courts, you’ll be very successful.” 

Some of the girls who played as freshmen had never picked up a racket. The team’s record that year was 5-6, and 10-11 the following year. They and the coach had to put in a lot of work to achieve this year’s winning record.

 “It’s been a great year,” the coach said. “It is sad to see our seniors go, but we have a lot of returning varsity players next year.”

Cabassa plans to continue lessons and practice for the girls over the winter in hopes of winning the Eastern Buckeye Conference next year.