Mary’s coaches nominated her for Athlete of the Month because of her admirable work ethic, “fantastic” attitude, and never-ending desire to improve.
Mary joined the tennis team last year after the IHSA postponed volleyball (her primary sport) to the spring season. She had little-to-no formal experience before the start of the season, but her “fantastic [athleticism]” and talent propelled her to earn the #1 singles spot. Even when facing opposing teams’ best players, Mary was successful from the beginning. Her consistent returns coupled with her excellent movement on the court helped her record an impressive 8-5 regular-season record. As for the postseason, she placed 5th in the Big 12 Conference tournament and placed 4th in the Geneseo sectional––a performance that, in a normal year, would have given her a spot at the IHSA state finals.
While Mary’s tennis skills are certainly impressive, her intangible qualities make her even more deserving of this recognition. Her coaches notice her enthusiasm and positivity on the court: “[She] always has a smile on her face when playing.” She works hard at practice and displays real dedication to improving in her sport. Her fierce competitive spirit and perseverance stand out to her coaches and make her a real asset to her team. Congratulations to Mary on this well-deserved award; we can’t wait to see how she continues to improve in future seasons.