The Road to State

State. Winning state was all Sophomore Elizabeth Wilcox could think about during tennis tryouts. That and beating Blue Valley North. She wanted the Lancers to have the best top six players out there, and she wanted those top six to go and win state.

“State is the biggest deal during tennis season,” said Wilcox, “It’s definitely our main focus.”

The girl’s tennis team took their first step to the road to state, this past Weekend by winning regionals. Both singles and doubles teams advanced to the state competition this coming weekend. Junior Mimi Fotopolus placed first in singles with Junior Carolyn Welter in third. Wilcox partnered with Junior Molly Cooper placed first for doubles, followed by Freshman Meredith Shackelford and Junior Maggie Fenton in third.

Working up to this, the Lady Lancers went 11-1 in League, with a loss to Shawnee Mission North West. Lancers will be going into state with BV North as their main competition. Both BV North and East won regionals for their region with a total of 24 points, sweeping the board, and sending all six girls to State.
“It’s really important that Molly and I win against the top doubles team,” Wilcox said.
The girls of the lady lancer tennis team bond through practice, but it’s not your normal everyday practice routine they go through. Each player has their own way of preparing for State.

“Elizabeth and I will sometimes play Maggie and Meredith to get ready,” Cooper said. “Or we will play girls from other schools.”

Number one seeded Fotopolus hits with her dad a lot to prepare.

“After practice she normally goes home and plays with her dad or has a private lesson,” Chipman said.

The girls’ are off to Wichita this weekend for the State tournament, in hopes of bring home the trophy.
“We have the same draw as BV North, and so I think are chances are fifty fifty,” Chipman said.