From Oct. 23 to 25, North’s girls tennis team competed in the IHSA girls tennis tournament at John Hersey High School in Arlington Heights. The doubles duo of sophomore Abby Weddle and senior Reese Thomas represented North over the three-day event, which featured the top girls tennis players from all over the state. Weddle and Thomas played two matches and eventually lost both against two different teams.
“They ran into two really amazing teams. Both teams were in the top 10 teams in the state of Illinois. The team who finished second in state was who they lost to and they got four games off them. So that’s a huge testament to their fight and their grit,” said Sean Masoncup, North’s tennis coach.
When it came to prepping for the tournament, Weddle and Thomas focused on playing smarter, not harder. Masoncup made sure to give them intense drills that helped them attack the weaknesses of their opponents. They also played some matches against the boys tennis team to prepare for the increased intensity of the state tournament. However, team chemistry was just as important in the preparation process, which Masoncup also focused on developing between Weddle and Thomas.
“At the end of day when it comes to doubles teams, you gotta have chemistry, and to have a senior and a sophomore and be able to create that chemistry is a big deal,” said Masoncup.
It is not just teamwork and chemistry that Weddle and Thomas had to work on. Strategy and a strong game plan also came into play, as players have to outsmart and attack their opponents, choosing the right plays to make and predicting the moves of the players in front of them.
“You got a ball coming at you, 100 miles an hour, but you also need to play chess against the opponent across the mat and try to out think them, so it’s one of the more difficult sports in terms of the athletic-ability combination,” said Masoncup.
Qualifying for the tournament was no easy feat; the two had to win sectionals, which they did as the first-ranked seed among the top four doubles pairs. This was a result of teamwork and intense dedication, which both Weddle and Thomas gave in full supply. In particular, Weddle showed immense devotion and determination, both in the offseason and during the season, according to Masoncup. She progressed from JV to qualifying for state in one year.
“[Weddle] really stepped up her game this year,” Masoncup said. “I’m really proud of both of them for how they both improved and really took the initiative to attack their tennis game and become better tennis players.”
For Thomas, going to the state competition this year meant a lot, as this year is her senior year. She is team captain and a fundamental member of the team.
“Reese is an amazing player. [She] always helps me [and] gives me great advice. Throughout the whole game, she’s a mentor,” said Weddle. “She’s the heart and soul. It would definitely be hard without her.”
Both girls came into the tournament with their heads held high, determined to put all their hard work to use.
“[Our mindset was] to prove ourselves, kind of like that we made [it] to state, we’re good. We deserve to be here. We’re gonna play our game and play the best we can,” said Weddle.
