BHS girls tennis finishes 13th at state

BARRINGTON – Barrington High School girls varsity tennis coach Tracy Waters has led her team to state season after season for more than a decade. This year was no exception.

The team concluded its 2013 season with an 11-point victory over Fremd High School during IHSA sectionals at Lake Park on Oct. 19 before sending four players to the state tournament held last weekend at Buffalo Grove High School.

Waters has coached Barrington girls tennis for more than a decade now.

“The past 10 years have brought us some impressive experiences,” Waters said. “I told the girls that I wanted them to play well as a team with everyone picking up a couple points and to continue to do what they had done all season.”

And that the girls did – scoring 14 points for Barrington at this year’s state tournament.

“We maxed on what we could do,” Waters said. “I couldn’t be more proud.”

Sophomore Michelle Linden earned her spot in the state tournament by winning the sectional singles match. Linden went to state last year as part of a doubles team and said she was excited to be challenged on her own this year.

“I just want to do the best for myself,” Linden said, adding that she knew the state tournament would bring tough competition.

Linden won her first three singles rounds at the IHSA state tournament, as well as her sixth and seventh consolation rounds. Linden scored eight points in total.

Joining Linden was junior Caroline Levy, who lost her initial round against New Trier High School (Winnetka), but won her first two consolation rounds against singles players from Francis W. Parker School (Chicago) and Woodstock High School.

Sophomore Anna Donoghue and junior Addie Hirsch represented Barrington at the state tournament as a doubles team. The girls had said they spent weeks prior to the tournament practicing in the wind and cold to prepare for unpredictable weather, and that their goal was to advance as far as possible.

Donoghue and Hirsch won their first and second rounds at the state tournament, scoring a total of four points against Alleman High School, Rock Island and Normal Community High School.

The Barrington doubles team lent some insight into working as a duo.

“It’s rewarding to have someone else motivate you and keep you positive,” Donoghue said.

Hirsch said the mental aspect of a doubles match can be challenging, worrying about how she is affecting her teammate.

“It works though, because we both completely trust each other,” Hirsch said. “I always know we will go out there with the best attitude we can.”

Pre-state practice led by Waters consisted of strategic play – heavily focused on “what if” scenarios, Hirsch added.

Hinsdale Central and Lake Forest High School tied for first place as the IHSA state final girls tennis tournament concluded on Saturday. Each team scored a total of 39 points.

The top singles finisher was Tiffany Chen of Naperville Central. Top doubles finishers were Kendall Kirsch and Alexxis Kiven of Stevenson High School (Lincolnshire).

The Barrington varsity girls tennis team ended up placing 13th in the state this year, and Waters said she is already excited to see next year’s team, with five out of six sectional-level players returning in 2014.