Hello and happy summer everyone!
The time certainly flies by with different projects going on; for me mostly fund raising and recruiting, but also preparing for an exciting season to come. I must admit, however, that I've been dreading writing this post and have put it off for weeks and weeks.
Why would I not want to write about this team? In 2014-2015, we not only had one of our most successful campaigns on court finishing #22 in the nation and advancing to the second round of NCAA's, but somehow, someway, this experience just keeps getting more fun and rewarding. On top of that, the topic I'm writing about, our seniors - excuse me - graduates, is the reason we had so much fun. But, how amazing they are is exactly why it is so hard to write and say goodbye to them.
During Maddy, Courtney and Morgan's four years at Whitman, including the past two with Erin, so much has happened. We earned our first national ranking in my time here, we qualified for the NCAA's for the first time and in our first round in 2012 we defeated my alma mater UC Santa Cruz in what was one of the most special moments for me as a coach. This was followed up by three more NCAA trips, but also three straight Northwest Conference championships.
Along the way, Courtney has become arguably our most decorated player ever (Lynn Greer McKelvey might argue that point...). A three time NWC player of the year who qualified for 3 NCAA individual singles championships and 2 NCAA singles championships, she finished the year nationally ranked in singles and doubles each of her four years and is Whitman's first 7 time ITA All-American player (4 doubles, 3 singles). What is so amazing to me is that if I had to define Courtney, it wouldn't be as an individual at all, but as the ultimate team player. Whenever I planned a practice or made a lineup decision, in talking to Courtney, her response was always intelligent and showed huge caring for her teammates, but it always included, "whatever is best for the team, I'll do". This is who Courtney is, and her passion for friendships and teamwork is a legacy that will endure on this team and in my heart much longer than her long list of on court accolades.
Morgan isn't without her own list of accomplishments. As a two time ITA All-American and three time all NWC performer, Morgan was also Whitman's Senior performer of the year this year. Despite missing significant time her junior year due to injuries, as a senior Morgan joined the Century Club, winning over 100 matches during her career at Whitman. Anyone who spent a single practice or watched a single match of Morgan's will tell you that beyond being a talented player, she has the heart of a lion. Morgan is the kind of competitor who inspires with her effort and will to win. She brings all of herself to everything she does and was instrumental in instilling a team wide desire to want to win and do everything to win but without sacrificing sportsmanship, generosity and kindness. For all of the accolades earned, neither Morgan or Courtney ever seemed concerned with them. And that focus on the process of what it takes to be not just a good, but a better and better player, teammate and person is what truly makes these two so special.
We see this same quality in Maddy. I remember when the three of them were in their first college tournament, playing singles and doubles at Willamette and the twins asked Maddy if she'd checked in yet for her match. "What, I have to check in?" Maddy's response was priceless because in high school she had chosen not to play USTA tournaments and had no idea what to do. Her independence and determination to constantly experience new things isn't uncommon at Whitman, but to have this without giving up the training, dedication, focus and competitive edge it takes to play at the level she does is something I've never seen before. Through her years at Whitman, Maddy was integral to everything we did. On the court, she learned singles tactics and how to use her aggressive game to win us matches, but it was always doubles where she really shined. Playing every position in the lineup and being ranked as high as the top 10 in the West region in doubles (I'm not sure she knows how close she and Courtney were to going to NCAA individuals their junior year), Maddy has been one of our best doubles players on a team that excels in doubles. But it is the way she found ways to lead us, to be both incredibly supportive and loving but also so direct and efficient that in many ways made her not just a leader, but a captain and in this past year very much a coach. Maddy would win a HUGE doubles point (7-3 record vs nationally ranked teams as a senior), lead us vocally through the match, and then promptly find us food and make sure each and every person was taken care of recovering and preparing for the next match. As I think about it, I'm still in awe that she did all this and made it look so easy and fun. I know that everything she did made my job an absolute joy for the past four years.
Speaking of joy, having the opportunity to coach and build a relationship with Erin is one of the most incredible things I've done at Whitman. I love how genuine the amazing young women I coach are, but Erin takes it to another level. She knows herself, pushes herself to grow and is very direct and up front about what she wants, needs and has learned. Change can be hard, but Erin realized that it is what she needed and transferred to Whitman as a junior. Making the most of every day with the team, in her classes and in our community; it was incredible to see Erin have a clear plan of where she wanted to go and how she wanted to get there. It was always the toughest matches that Erin was the most pumped up for, and that she played the best in. How she rises up to challenges fits perfectly with her busy, quirky, fun, intense, loving personality and will make her an amazing teacher. She is already starting her first year of teaching middle school this year as part of her grad program at Notre Dame. As EBell becomes Ms. Bell, I couldn't be more proud.
Each of these four is an example of someone who came into college with great academic ability, tremendous tennis skills and the qualities of a teammate anyone would want to be around. That none of them was satisfied and they all attacked their tennis, their academics and their personal growth with the same fun intensity they practice and play with every day is indicative of the very best of our program and of Whitman. I'd like to say one more time how incredibly fortunate I feel to be their coach, to have had the time we've had and to look forward to the times ahead.
Thank you Erin, Morgan, Maddy and Courtney. You have enriched the lives of so many around you and not only brought great years to our program, but like so many wonderful players before you, you've left the program in a stronger place than it was when you arrived - you are forever Whitties and our family just keeps growing and getting stronger.
John
