2023 LSN Girls Tennis Season

Story by Morgan Hill – Staff Reporter

   As the fall sports season comes to a close, so does the girls tennis season. This year, the Lee’s Summit North tennis team has celebrated new milestones, wins, and continued their success.

   For returning players, this season marked a continuation of relationships that would help the team with their success on a quest for championships.

    “…but also with the bonds within my team, we’re a lot closer than it was last year,” Jerryn Cantrell, sophomore, said.

    The tennis team has bonds that have strong roots as some girls are related to other teammates. This helped create a positive environment that promoted accountability and helped the team win matches this season.

    “…we had our moments where it’s like I’m really frustrated with you right now but I can’t really do anything about this, but it definitely brought us closer. I would say we’re amazing doubles partners because I just get her. We have that twin telepathy,” Cantrell said. 

     This season the girl’s tennis coach, Stu Reece, hit a milestone of his 300th career win as the head coach of the tennis program at LSN. This is a huge accomplishment for LSN and Coach Reece as his impact has been felt throughout the many tennis teams over the years.

    “It means I’m old.  Seriously, it means that I have been blessed with many fantastic student-athletes during my time at LSNHS.  We have had many different athletes contribute to all those victories over the years, several of which are teaching in R-7 with children of their own. It has given us an opportunity to proudly represent our community, our school, and our families while wearing the Bronco Logo,” Reece said.

    The girls team this year has improved its competitiveness and love to play its fierce style of the sport that would later help them to win the MSHSAA Class 3 District 6 championship title. The girls loved having the opportunity to redeem themselves after a loss.

   “Me and my doubles partner lost in doubles to Lee’s Summit and I played one of the girls from the doubles pair again in singles and I beat her. So, that was my favorite moment, playing her again and getting my revenge for that,” Cantrell said.

   Overall, the team as a whole developed significantly from last year and that has shown on the courts.

   “…we have definitely really improved since last year, especially for the girls who are returning players,” Cantrell said.

   The tennis team has experienced tons of success as they won a district championship and all signs are pointing towards a good run at the state tournaments coming up soon.

 

Photo by Kate Gerding