The 2022 – 2023 Lancaster High School girls’ tennis team finished with a team record of 12 – 11 and placed third in the Ohio Captial Conference. Several athletes earned distinguished awards: 2nd Team All-OCC, Hannah Sheets – 3rd singles, and Kynlee Baer, Olivia Faz, and Ava Reid – 2nd doubles.  The following qualified for 3rd Team All-OCC: Scarlett Ward – 1st singles, Gracyn Gagne – 2nd singles, and Andi Green and Gracie Stuart – 1st doubles.  Ava Reid also won OCC Scholar-Athlete.

Head coach Gary Elick talked about the challenges the team faced this year.  

“The challenge of the season was keeping everyone fresh, motivated, and injury-free. In tennis, you can play up to 24 matches a season. We played 23, so it’s a fine line between continuing to work the players hard at practice or just giving them some time off to rejuvenate,” Elick said. 

Assistant Coach Justin Clark said the team worked hard on the court but also had fun and bonded over the course of the season. 

“Going to Dairy Queen after matches and seeing the players develop their skills over time, putting in the work, and watching them grow in confidence and strength. working with each individual player to make sure they are being pushed at their own pace; some players are more aggressive, mentally tougher, athletic, or just want to enjoy the team,” Clark said. 

Several LHS seniors experienced their last tennis competitions including Gracie Stuart, Adriana Rodrigues-Denner, Ava Reid, Lilly Robertson, and Hannah Sheets.  Some reflected on their high school tennis careers.

“The aspects I will miss the most about the high school athletic experience would have to be the close bonds made with the other girls on the team. While practices and competing for spots on the team are rigorous, you build the strongest bond with your peers when you push each other to be the best you can be,” Sheets said.

“I will always remember the life lessons I learned by playing tennis. Over the course of the past few years, I’ve been challenged in ways I’ve never been challenged before and a lot of times had to do things I didn’t want, but I’ve learned that these are necessary to learn and grow,” said Reid. 

Coach Elick said that the team had great chemistry among the athletes and were consistently there for each other providing support and encouragement.  Working with such athletes is something that coaches like Elick cherish.

“This is my 30th year as the girl’s head tennis coach and I look at each of those years as a gift. Most of the girls that I’ve worked with over the years I still maintain communication with and many I see often throughout the year. I hope I have made a fraction of the impact on them as they’ve made in my life,” Elick said.

The LHS girls’ tennis team demonstrated that a close bond could go far in an athletic career and most importantly in life. 

“I have so many memories from my time on the high school team such as singing Taylor Swift from the top of our lungs on our night rides home, Chik-Fil-A shenanigans, and crazy van rides with Coach Elick. I will never forget the time we had together,” said Sheets.