OBERLIN, Ohio -- A state berth in girls tennis is like lemonade on a 90-degree day. Once you get a taste, you keep coming back for more. While Westlake's Lauren Golick earned her second straight trip to Columbus earlier in the week, what she did on Saturday at the Oberlin Division I district showed just how much she's ready...
OBERLIN, Ohio -- A state berth in girls tennis is like lemonade on a 90-degree day. Once you get a taste, you keep coming back for more.
While Westlake's Lauren Golick earned her second straight trip to Columbus earlier in the week, what she did on Saturday at the Oberlin Division I district showed just how much she's ready to make a run.
Last year, Golick navigated her way to the state tournament, but bowed out after one match. This season, the nationally ranked sophomore lost just six games at Oberlin en route to a singles district title.
Believe it when she tells you an early exit in Columbus played on her mind this season.
"Losing makes you a better player," she said. "I'm real proud of how I've been playing."
How she played in a 6-1, 6-1, semifinal win over Revere's Natalie Robson was just foreshadowing for her 6-2, 6-2, district final victory over Hudson's Alex Bastock. Golick was superb, attacking when she needed to, going on the defensive when play called for it and playing conservative as Bastock made unforced errors.
What helped even more was breaking her opponent early in each set.
"I think getting [to state] made her aware of her environment," Westlake coach Ralph Dunbar said. "She went down as a freshman, not many do that. It opened her eyes.
"Her want and her desire are a lot greater this year. It's great to do well at sectionals and districts, but you get down there and it's a whole new level, a whole new environment."
That environment comes with the title district champion and Golick should get a better draw this time around.
Last year, Golick finished fifth at Oberlin and had to face Southwest district runner-up Andrea Wolf of Cincinnati Mt. Notre Dame at state. The match ended in straight sets without Golick winning a single game.
That's something Dunbar isn't expecting when his super sophomore takes to the court on Friday.
"The most important thing is the momentum she's carried throughout the season and that should translate down there," he said. "She's taken her game to a whole other level. With that brings a ton of confidence. She's made the most of every situation."
So has the doubles team of Victoria and Mandy Marchant from Kenston.
While the returning state qualifiers didn't win their finals match against Canfield's Allison Pavlansky and Kaitlin Kaleel, they head to the courts at the Stickney Tennis Center brimming with confidence.
The Bombers duo played the match of the day at Oberlin before losing 5-7, 7-5, 6-7 (1).
In the epic battle, the Marchants came back from two match points in the third set to force the tiebreaker.
In the end, it was too much for the Kenston tandem, but they proved something to themselves after the exhausting match.
"That's definitely one we learn from and take with us," Victoria Marchant said. "At state, we know if we're down, we can come back. We needed a tough match like that."
First- and second-round action begins Friday at the Stickney Center with the semifinals and finals taking place Saturday at Hilliard Davidson High School.
Brad Bournival is a free-lance writer from North Royalton