On Thursday night, Lakewood High School’s girls tennis team celebrated its senior night. The varsity team swept Elyria High School, winning all their matches. Many family members and friends attended the girls’ final home match.
The seniors being celebrated are Mel Diemert, Abriana Heinz, Mackenzie Martin, Zari Newell, Abigail Peck, Delaney Starr, and Maya Trempe.
Some seniors have played all four years, others just this season, and a few have played much longer. Despite their varying experience levels, they have become a close-knit group of friends and a winning team.
“My teammate, Delaney Starr — she like kept me going, and we would always practice together, and we became really close during our senior year,” said senior Mackenzie Martin.
Martin started her freshman year as a brand-new tennis player and became a second singles player by her senior year. Starr began playing tennis in eighth grade and is now a first singles player.
The seniors have fostered strong relationships with each other during their time together, boosting team morale and creating a fun environment.
“They set the example of what it takes to be on varsity and what it entails and how hard they had to work on their game,” said head coach Lucy Finnegan. “When we have matches like this, when we’re all together, they bring in the JV to do the cheer at the end.”
The senior girls do a standout job of setting an example for the younger girls and ensuring they feel like an important part of the team.
As a result, the younger girls set up a table for the seniors during senior night, featuring oversized tennis balls labeled with their names, individual gift bags, tennis racquet-shaped trophies, and notebooks for friends and family to leave kind notes. This showcased just how much they appreciate the seniors.
“This is about having fun, no pressure on the players. My whole thing is, I don’t care if you win or lose, but give it your 100%, 150%, out on the court. And I think they have demonstrated that they leave everything out on the court,” said Finnegan.
The seniors have demonstrated not only self-discipline and hard work but also the importance of having fun. Their presence has greatly influenced the other players.
“They always say keep up the good work. And I think that means a lot, because sometimes I get down on myself and just take their words to heart,” said Claire Monahan, a junior in her first year on the tennis team.
Not only have the seniors had a strong overall impact on their teammates, but some individuals have also left a lasting impression on them.
“Abriana…because she’s so kind and, like, if I’m having a bad day, that really means a lot to me, and I really just enjoy seeing her,” said Monahan.
The strong bond between the seniors and their teammates is evident in the way they talk about each other and their performance on the tennis courts.
For Finnegan, senior night means more than just a simple goodbye.
“For me…seeing how they’re going to go out in the world and face the world on their own, and how they just look at it — new adventure with eyes wide open — they just want to go and accomplish what they set out to do,” said Finnegan.
The relationships developed over the years have left an emotional impact on not only the players but the coaches, too. The tennis team cherishes its time with the seniors, even if only for one year. Finnegan wishes the best for the seniors in their adult lives and knows that they will explore their new journeys with curiosity and determination, the same way they did when they started high school.
