Coach Jonathan saw the vision of the girls tennis team. Before he started coaching girls tennis, the girls participated with the boys. As girls increased more than the boys, the girls wanted to start their own team. Due to no one wanting to sponsor the team, Flaxbart stepped in. 

“I am the only person who has ever coached the girls tennis team,” Flaxbart said. “I got roped into coaching because tennis has always been intramural, so girls who wanted to play, had played in spring with the boys. There started to be more girls on the boys team than boys.”

The girls took over the boys tennis team. The girls wanted their own team, therefore Flaxbart coached their dreams to come true. 

“I played in high school, I know how to play so I’ll coach it,” he stated.

With 15 total girls, 11 of them are seniors and Flaxbart believes that’s why they are on a winning streak of 10. 

“I think our communication on the courts and our drive to do super good was really there this year,” senior Allyson Miller said.

Each and every player has their own opinion on why they’re on a winning streak. For example, Brooklynn McAlister thinks they are on a winning streak because the team bonds together and each team member is a hard worker. 

“I think we are on a winning streak because we all learned how to deal with our emotions more and our mindset on the court,” senior Dawn Razor said. 

Senior Alyssa Birkenmeier, senior Peyton Birkenmeier and Taylor Birkenmeier are captains for the team, Alyssa being head captain.

“Alyssa will make you feel so confident and give you little talks before, during and after the game. She is amazing,” Razor said.

Flaxbart made a google classroom for the girls tennis team and uploaded a google form to anonymously vote for captains. Every team member voted the Birkenmeiers for captains.

“Alyssa and her sisters have been playing tennis the longest, so it just makes sense,” Miller said. “She is a very positive and outgoing person.”

The team members on girls tennis have strong feelings for the Birkenmeiers and trust them to coach.

“It makes me happy knowing I can help out the other girls,” senior captain Alyssa Birkenmeier said. “It’s soothing to know they have a shoulder to lean on whenever they are upset about a game or a match.”

Being captain isn’t all that easy, it can be a stressful and a hard position to fill.

“At first it was stressful because I felt like I had a lot of pressure on me, but all of the girls are really nice and it’s a pleasure to help them out,” Alyssa said. 

Every team member voted Alyssa to be head captain because of her communication, emotional and leadership skills.

“I was voted by all of the members to be captain,” Alyssa said.

Alyssa Birkenmeier has a sweet spot for her girls and only wanted to be captain because she wants her team knowing it’s okay to feel and be upset, but don’t let it tear them down.

“I wanted to be captain because tennis is my primary sport and I wanted the opportunity to lead and help the other girls out,” Alyssa said. 

The team has a winning streak of 10, have only lost two. The team participated in districts over the first weekend of October. Senior Grace Skeen and senior Haley Moore were the top doubles team placing in first place, moving on to sectionals. Peyton Birkenmeier placed third in singles. Alyssa Birkenmeier’s doubles team placed third and did not move onto sectionals.

With the winning streak of 10, the girls tennis team is feeling confident and excited about what’s going to come.