Photos submitted by individual members of HHS Tennis.

Emma Suneja

The Hamilton Girls Tennis 2024 season has come to an end. They have had an incredible season and so many memories to share. The tennis team is broken up into four different teams: Varsity, Varsity Reserve, Junior Varsity, and JV2. This article includes statistics and quotes from players on all of the teams! The girls on the team are given the opportunity to play either singles or doubles. Both of these positions require unique skills. Singles are people who play alone against a singular opponent and doubles is a team of two playing against another team of two. The teams compete at multiple different tournaments and matches throughout the season. While a match is battling against a single other school, a tournament is head to head with multiple different teams in the area.

Tennis has brought so many people together and is an experience that anyone could benefit from. Senior Natalie Gehrke said, “We had a good senior year. I wouldn’t trade my teammates for anything! I made a lot of new friends throughout the past 4 years that I will remember forever!” Which is a feeling shared amongst the entire team!

The Varsity Girls Tennis team is coached by Coach Fagan who is an Advanced Algebra and Geometry teacher at Hamilton. They had an incredible season having 15 wins and 6 losses for the season. They finished 3rd overall in their conference for the third consecutive season keeping alive a three year streak at conference. Congrats Ladies!

The JV Girls Tennis team is coached by Coach Tennessen who teaches French 1-5 at Hamilton. The Hamilton Girls Tennis team was overwhelmed with talent this year, that for the first time ever a Varsity Reserve Team. Members of the team have expressed how much support they felt from their teammates this season. The team really rallied together to support each other and create a wonderful team dynamic.

JV2 is coached by Coach Lenion, who teaches social studies teacher in 7 Gold at Templeton, and Coach Weiss, who teaches Math and Science teacher in 8 Silver at Templeton. They have had some fun memories this season and so much to share. This team took Brookfield Academy by storm winning 11-8! This weekend tournament was a massive triumph! Also, we want to highlight the success of Regan Schardt who placed second for 3 singles.

Senior Spotlights

Varsity

Nicole Moore

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory of tennis is going to state my Junior year and having the team come up to watch.We got to stay in a hotel in Madison and get dinner before we played the next day. It was a lot of fun to be with the team and make it so far in the season.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My best advice for someone joining tennis is to not get discouraged. I started playing tennis in 7th grade and I obviously wasn’t the best at it. I personally got very discouraged in the beginning and looking back I didn’t need to because when I continued to practice and put forth an effort the results started to come and I had more fun when I put more effort in.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is the lack of time you have. Balancing school, work and your sport can get to be a lot. For me having a social life is very important and having practice and matches everyday is a lot. I learned to make sure I plan ahead and put aside time to take breaks because it really can be a lot.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would like to shout out Mr. Schneider, our old coach for always making tennis fun and enjoyable. He really brought the team together and could always lighten the mood no matter the circumstance.

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“Nicole has had a great career. She has meant a lot to our tennis program. She's been on varsity all four seasons, and has been to state. Her and Natalie finished 3rd in the conference together. They started playing together halfway through the season. It was a difficult adjustment for both of them, but they handled it really well.”

Hailey Stubler

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memories of tennis are the times we spent before and after matches together because we had a lot of fun.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

One piece of advice I would give to people that are joining is just to play as much as you can, because that is the best way to get better.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is probably figuring out how to prioritize different commitments with my athletic commitments. So making sure my school work and my tennis and my social life and my time with my friends and family can all be balanced. It is definitely a challenge.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would like to shout out my coaches. So Mr. Schneider the past two years was really a phenomenal coach and he made it really, really entertaining. And Mr. Fagan has done a great job stepping up and coaching this year, and he has definitely brought some great energy to help me compete.

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“She stands out to me as someone who is physically and mentally tough. I envy her mental game as an adult. She never lets anything bother her. Everyone on the team is like this, but I really notice this in her: she genuinely enjoys just hitting tennis balls in practice.”

Olivia Skelton

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory would be going to Madison last year for state and staying overnight. It was such a good team bonding moment and we got to explore Madison and have fun the night before state.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My best advice would be to not get discouraged and to make sure to enjoy it.

What is the most challenging part about being a student athlete?

Having to manage my time along with tennis matches and homework and studying would be the most challenging thing.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would like to shout out all of the coaches who are so amazing and organize everything.

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“She played with Natalie the first half of the season, and then played with Allison McCurdy. She went 19-6 overall and had some really impressive wins against Westosha Central, Pewaukee, Brookfield Academy, Brookfield Central, and Germantown. She did a really good job handling the change in partners, which isn't easy to do midway through a season.”

Natalie Gehrke

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory from tennis is hanging out with the team after going to matches and going to random places.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My advice would be to not worry about which team you're on or how good you are. Either way it’s a fun experience so take advantage of it.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

Of course the most challenging part about being a student athlete is managing it with school work and using time management skills.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

Shoutout to all the coaches who managed everything and helped us have a good time!

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“[Natalie and Nicole] started playing together halfway through the season. It was a difficult adjustment for both of them, but they handled it really well. I am really proud of how Natalie handled it. She was moved to a position that she was nervous to be, but she played great in that role! Overall, they were 7-4 together.”

Lahari Gurram

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory of tennis is staying overnight at Madison for State last year.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

I would say the best advice I can give to any newbies joining tennis is don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself and just have fun.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is definitely managing late nights because of tennis with work and school.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would like to shout out Mr. Tennessen, he is so nice and truly gives valuable advice.

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“Our one singles player was Lahari Gurram. She finished 13-10 which is a really good record for how difficult that spot is in the lineup in our conference. She was a really positive and optimistic presence for the team this season. It was a tough position to play, and she knew that, and never let it deflate her or her support to her teammates. She made it through subsectionals and to sectionals.”

Addie Prochazka

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory is all the team dinners and getting food together after matches.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My best advice would be to just enjoy every moment there is. I know four years seems like a long way away but it goes by so fast.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is balancing homework and studying especially after super later matches.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

Shoutout to my grandparents and parents for not missing any of my matches throughout the season and always being there.

What does Coach Fagan have to say?

“We also had Addie Prochazka who played at 4-doubles this season. Addie tore her meniscus right before the season started and she returned to play about a month later which is really impressive. I truly didn't believe that you could return from that so soon. Best part about Addie that really stood out. She showed up to every practice and match when she was hurt. She was still right there each day supporting her team.”

Junior Varsity

Audrey Balsbaugh

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My favorite memory of tennis is celebrating Halloween at my house with the team last year when the season was over. I always enjoy spending time with the team outside of tennis whether we get food together or just hang out and get to know each other better!

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

Talk to new people! Get to know the people that are not in your grade because there is so much to learn from others' experiences. Also, support the people that you might not know well to show your team spirit!

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is managing your schedule with homework, other extracurricular activities, and still having free time.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

Akshara! Even though she gets injured or sick quite frequently, she still manages to stay strong for our matches or practice. Akshara is the strongest player I know, she's a great team supporter, she will never give up, and she is an amazing friend!

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Audrey Balsbough had a winning record playing at the #1 spot. She was named the Charger Athlete of the Decade at the end of last season meaning she has 9 more years as title holder.”

Zoe Dickert

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My best memory from tennis was playing and winning against DSHA with my doubles partner Lucy. The courts were super fancy and we hit some great shots! Plus there were these water dispensers with cool cone shaped cups.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My best advice for someone joining tennis would be to reach out and make friends. The tennis community is super nice, and warm ups/practice is 10 times more fun when you can do it with people you love to be around! The connections I’ve made with girls within the sport are so strong, and I’ve also met some of my best friends through the team.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is feeling confident enough to play well. It took me a couple of years to really enjoy competing because it used to scare me. Now, competing is one of my favorite things. All I had to do was practice and get comfortable with my shots and position as a doubles player. Reaching out to friends and asking for advice/support was one of the best strategies to cope with this!

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would love to shout out so many people, because everyone on the team is super talented and fun to be around. However, me and Lucy Vernon ended up becoming doubles partners later this season and I’ve had the best time playing matches with her. She has amazing sportsmanship and is overall one of my best friends!

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Zoe Dickert was a true pleasure to watch play because of her great spirit and aggressive nature. We loved watching her own the net.”

Akshara Sivakumar

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

Getting absolutely bullied at the banquet by Mr. Tennessen (it is funny looking back now).

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

Don’t worry about what team you’re going to be on, if you play your best and be consistent you will get where you want to be. So don’t worry and just have fun, that’s why you should be playing.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging thing about being a student athlete is making time for everything, time management is definitely a struggle with hard classes, friends and other activities

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I want to shout out to all of my senior girls, you guys have been so amazing to play with the past few years, I love you all so much and know you’re all going to do amazing things in the future. And to my underclassmen, I love you guys so much, it’s been amazing seeing you all grow, I will miss you all so much but I know you will all do great with whatever you choose to do.

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Akshara Sivakumar was a warrior on the court who demonstrated how to play hard from the first to the last point and never give up on the ball.”

Lucy Vernon

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My favorite tennis memory is the people I got to experience the season with. Last year I enjoyed playing at the season finale tournament. I got to play with all my friends on a very nice day. It made the season for me and solidified that I would return next year. Additionally, I like having Mr. Tennessen as a coach. He makes practices/meets so much more fun with his jokes and winning attitude.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

Some advice I would give is to have fun and play with your friends. It is fun to win but even better to make fun memories and experiences with your friends. Don't be too hard on yourself and always believe in yourself.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

One of the most challenging things about being a student-athlete is having balance. Especially as your classes get harder, it is important to maintain that balance between work, school, sports, and social life so you don't drown in everything or break.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I would like to shout out to my parents who have helped me through everything, thank you!

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Lucy Vernon used her quickness and aggressiveness to win nearly every match she played, including an upset of Divine Savior at Western Racquet Club.”

Julia Staeden

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My favorite memory from tennis would be just getting to know all the girls and hanging out as a team when we went to Starbucks and Target after practice one day.

What advice would you give a new member?

My advice for anyone that’s thinking about joining would be just do it and have fun with it. The best part about tennis is not taking it super seriously and just having fun.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

I’d say the most challenging thing about being a student athlete is always having practice about everyday after school. Sometimes you just need a break and want a day off but know you have practice or a match.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

The person I would like to shout out would be my mom. She was the one who convinced me to try out for tennis in the first place and is always there to support me in all my decisions.

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Julia Staeden worked her way to the #1 Doubles spot. She was a great player and supportive teammate throughout the year.”

Olivia Doerr

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

My favorite memory from tennis were the “Fun Friday” practices. Every Friday we would have practices filled with games and friendly competitions. I always looked forward to these practices because they created a fun and positive environment that allowed us to bond as a team.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

My advice for someone joining tennis is to have fun. The tennis season is super short, so make sure to focus less on your wins and losses, and spend more time making memories and having fun with your teammates. It goes by super fast!

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

The most challenging part about being a student athlete is time management. It can sometimes be hard to balance school and tennis due to practice and late night matches, so it’s important to develop good study habits.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

I want to shout out Mr. Tennessen for helping me grow as a tennis player and being a supportive coach to me for the last 2 years.

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Olivia Deorr was a pleasure to have on the team because of the improvements she made everyday and the competitive attitude she displayed in every match she played.”

Neha Patil

What is your favorite memory from tennis?

Falling and tripping over the buggy during practice and Tennesson laughing at me!

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

Always keep trying and keep practicing because I was really bad my freshman year and now I am really good compared to my first time playing.

What is the hardest part about being a student athlete?

Constantly doing homework in between practices and doing it while waiting for matches or on the bus because I have no other time to do it.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

Fagan! The funniest coach since my freshman year and made a type of hit named after me!

What does Coach Tennessen have to say?

“Neha Patil showed her versatility by being proficient in both singles and doubles. Everyone loves her positive attitude and sense of humor.”

Junior Varsity

Abbey Gerke

What is your favorite memory of tennis?

Winning my last game as a senior.

What advice would you give a new tennis member?

Try to find a partner that you can laugh with. Also, don’t take it too seriously.

What is the most challenging part of being a student athlete?

Finding a balance between school, sports, and personal life.

Is there anyone you would like to shout out?

N/A

What does Coach Leinon and Coach Weiss have to say?

“Abbey is so sweet and always came to tennis with a positive attitude! We are super bummed we only were able to get her out to play for her senior year.”

Disclaimer: This is NOT all of the seniors on all of the tennis teams. All seniors were reached out to but not everyone responded.