During their last home game, the OH varsity girls tennis team celebrated their senior players and their achievements during the match-up against Joliet West.
For the seniors, this special night on Sept. 29 reflected their hard work and determination throughout the years. Nights like these can make meaningful memories for the seniors, as well as juniors who have seen the seniors grow throughout the season.
“The tennis team has been about more than just playing tennis,” said OH senior Liliana Gorski. “It has given me the opportunity to be a part of something bigger than myself and to be part of a team. It’s really special to be a part of a group that always supports one another.”
Gorski has been a part of the team since her freshman year, and she noted she felt all the feels at the senior night celebration.
“The happiness I felt was in the form of pride, like, Wow, I made it to my last year... and the sadness was the realization that from here on out, I will go my separate way from the wonderful team I have gotten to know over the past four years,” Gorski added.
OH senior Melanie Imbronjev, who has also been on the varsity team all four years, noted tennis has allowed her to grow physically and mentally, and seeing it come to an end is bittersweet.
“It’s just like we bond while we’re there,” she said.
Imbronjev reflected on the memories over the years, which brought her heartfelt friendships with her teammates.
“When we were on our way home from a home match, we were just blasting music and singing,” showing how tennis has brought her a sense of belonging.
With the seniors completing their final season, the juniors are now looking up to the girls they have played alongside with for months, or even years.
“The seniors this year made playing tennis an even more positive experience,” said OH junior Hadley Stith, who plans to continue playing next year.
“They [gave] tips during practice and want the very best for all of our teammates, always staying to cheer on every match. I am glad to have such supportive teammates to look up to.”
Tennis has been a consistently important part of the players’ lives, and OH students who see the determination through the senior players, could make them want to join, and try it out for themselves.
“Some advice I would give to incoming tennis players is to learn to have fun with the sport but also wanting to do good,” Imbronjev said, encouraging students to stay motivated and determined.
“Tennis is a sport where you can have fun and meet a friendly, enthusiastic environment regardless of skill-level,” said Stith. “This sport is so valuable because it teaches you to take responsibility, to be resilient and how to make the most of it no matter your luck or your circumstance.”
Hi! My name is Kenna Ryan! I am a senior at OH and it is my first year on the 42Fifty Staff. You can contact me by emailing 42Fifty@sd308.org and attaching my name in the subject line. We welcome comments on our articles and feedback on our publication.
