LANCASTER – It is amazing what a little confidence can do for an individual and a team.
The Lancaster girls’ tennis team struggled out of the gate with a 2-5 record but then proceeded to win nine consecutive matches. After the winning streak was snapped, the Lady Gales were able to get back on the winning side of things with a pair of nonconference wins over Bloom-Carroll and Chillicothe.
“I think the girls just kind of realized they weren’t playing up to their potential and I think they got determined and they knew they were better than they were showing on the court,” Lancaster coach Gary Elick said. “It’s just like anything else, you get a little momentum and then it becomes easier and more natural. I’m just so proud of the girls with how they responded after starting that slow and coming back win nine in a row was awesome to see.”
After Monday’s win against the Cavaliers, the Gales improved to 13-6 overall, and they went 6-1 in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division to finish in second place. Lancaster was set to begin sectional tournament play on Wednesday.
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Senior Kynlee Baer said the key to the turnaround was Elick’s calm demeanor and the way he coaches the team.
“The key during that stretch in my mind is we are so close as a team and we spend a lot of time together outside of tennis,” Baer said. “There is no drama whatsoever. That has been huge for our success. It also helps to have coach Elick because he is a great guy and a great coach. He is very encouraging and uplifting to all of us. He never lets us get down on ourselves. Whenever he talks to us during matches and at practice he is so positive and encouraging.”
Baer, who has been on the varsity since she was a freshman, played No. 2 singles a year ago but was determined to get the No. 1 spot this year, so she went to work and earned her spot.
“I practiced pretty much every day over the summer, so it took a lot of dedication and time to get here,” Baer said. I went to a tennis club in Columbus in the offseason and that helped my improvement tremendously and pushed me to the top. It has been an honor to be on this team and see all the hard work all of us have put in.”
Elick said Baer put in the work and now she is seeing the reward.
“She took it upon herself and took lessons all winter, and between last year and this year is just day and night and day on the improvement she has made," Elick said. “She has so many more shots, and you can see her working strategy on the court. She is working on different depths and bringing her opponent in, and more than anything, she just exudes confidence. Last year, she wasn’t always sure of herself. This year she knew what she could do and she has done it.”
Baer earned third-team All-OCC honors, while Kaylee Akers (No. 2 singles) and Kenzie White (No. 3 singles) both went 7-0 in league play and earned first-team all-league honors. The two doubles teams, consisting of Brinkley Conklin and Kenzie White and Addy Brown and Vivian Worthington, were third-team All-OCC.
“Just seeing the improvement, not only freshman year to senior but the beginning to the middle of the year, to the end of the season is neat to see,” said Elick, who is in his 32 nd year as coach of the Gales. “All of these girls have continued to improve. Some of them may start at the bottom, but they keep making that improvement. Building relationships and seeing the improvement is what is so rewarding.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Big-time turnaround: Lancaster tennis started slow before reeling off nine consecutive victories
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