“When things get tense we say ‘Loosen up and just give up,’” Hefner said.
The Cougars haven’t had to employ that strategy too often this season. Kenton Ridge is 15-1 overall and 13-1 in the Central Buckeye Conference. The lone loss was a 3-2 setback against CBC defending champion Jonathan Alder on Sept. 20.
Senior Macy Wallace, a Division II district qualifier last season, is 13-2 overall. As the lone senior on varsity she’s taken on the role of team leader … and cheerleader. Teammates said she’s as quick with a “good job, guys” as she is with her forehand.
“She gives a lot of encouragement all the time.” said junior and No. 2 singles player Ellie Schleinitz. “We always look back and forth to each other and I’ll say ‘C’mon, Macy’ and she’ll say the same back to me. Just a lot of encouragement and insight since she’s a senior.”
“Macy has always been a leader, even when she was a freshman,” KR coach Sherri Bennett said. “That’s just her personality. … I expected her to do really well this year. She’s worked really hard over the summer, did the conditioning and positioned herself well.”
Rounding out KR’s varsity lineup is Schleinitz at No. 2 singles (13-2), freshman Ava Sullivan at No. 3 singles (14-1) and juniors Chloe Bonvillain and Hannah Brown at No. 2 doubles (15-0). Hefner and Hollbrook are 12-3.
“We have a lot of potential,” Wallace said of the Cougars’ 22-player strong roster. “I wish we could make two teams and both teams would do just as good.”
Wallace received the No. 2 seed in the singles bracket for the D-II sectional tournament at Troy High School on Tuesday. Hefner and Holbrook are seeded No. 3 in the doubles bracket. Wallace, should she qualify for district again, is hoping teammates join her.
“That would be wonderful,” Bennett said. “My doubles teams, last year we struggled trying to put together good chemistry. We’ve tried it (this year) and it’s just worked. Honestly, they’re both so very close. I could have them play back and forth 10 times and it could be 5-5.”
Bennett doesn’t like making cuts so the roster is loaded. Schleinitz came out for the team as a freshman because playing tennis sounded like fun.
“I heard a lot of good stuff about the team and decided to play,” Schleinitz said. “We love each other and hang out all the time, 24/7. It’s good to have time with them at school and during practice.”
Kenton Ridge’s last CBC match was Wednesday, a 3-2 defeat of Northwestern. The Cougars, who beat the Warriors 4-1 on Tuesday, clinched at least a share of the CBC title. Jonathan Alder was 11-1 with two matches remaining.
“It’s going great,” Holbrook said. “I love playing with Gretchen. She’s one of my favorite players to play with. I can always depend on her … They’re all great people. I love our team.”
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