According to the National Library of Medicine, “Approximately 57% of all high school students participate in one or more sports.” And only a select few get to experience winning state. Four amazing girls’ tennis champions from our school achieved this honor. We will look into each of these athlete’s state experiences and all the work they have put behind it.

Ainsley Moore

Ainsley Moore is a senior who has attended Rowland Hall for almost her whole life. She was co-captain of the tennis team this year and will be captain of the swim team. This multisport athlete who also excels in the classroom was described as a great leader by her doubles partner, Fiona Kean. She is also one of only two athletes on the team to get an academic All-State honor. Ainsley has been playing tennis since she was little and comes from a long line of tennis players, including her mom and grandpa. While describing her win, she said, it’s “the most fun I've had and probably ever will have on a tennis court.” Ainsley also had a lot of pressure heading into the match; she wanted to prove her ability to everyone. And indeed she did, not only as a tennis player but also as a captain the tennis program will miss, especially her teammate Fiona Kean.

 

Fiona Kean

Fiona Kean is a freshman who was eager to prove herself this season. She has gone to Rowland Hall for two years and is passionate about tennis. Fiona began her tennis journey when she was eight and instantly fell in love. This season was mentally very tough for Fiona; being a freshman competing at state came with a lot of pressure. “I didn’t want to disappoint my partner [Ainsley Moore ] as I knew she was facing a lot of pressure being a returning state champion.”  But she pulled through and they won it. Fiona wanted to shout out her partner Ainsley Moore. Fiona was beyond grateful for everything Ainsley helped her with this season. Fiona is very excited for next season and will stop at nothing to reclaim her trophy including playing 1st doubles like teammates Jane Borst and Savanna O'Connell.

 

Jane Borst 

Jane Borst is a junior who is no stranger to winning. Jane has been to state before, but this year she finally got her crown. Jane has been through many ups and downs with tennis. Last year she had to forfeit the final match due to an injury. That didn’t stop her from persevering and working hard for the next season. Jane’s tennis journey started in first grade. Her mother and grandfather both grew up playing, so naturally Jane followed in their footsteps. She started playing in New Jersey before moving here for freshman year. At first, she had trouble finding a place to play, but after adjusting to the new environment, she started to thrive with her doubles partner, Savanna O'Connell. 

 

Savanna O'Connell

Savanna O'Connell is a sophomore whose first state appearance came this year. She has been playing tennis since she was four years old and plans on playing for as long as she can. Savanna’s dad played tennis as a kid, which led Savanna to take lessons from a young age. At first, she thought of it as a burden, but as she played more, she realized the beauty of the game and began to love it. Savanna’s first year at state was a huge success, with winning her first-ever championship. She described the competition environment as “definitely overwhelming,” but that didn’t stop her.

All of these athletes have achieved an amazing feat, and we are lucky to have them be a part of our Rowland Hall community. What makes it even more impressive is our girls’ tennis team plays in a division higher than our school (3A rather than 2A), making this tournament a wonderful day that they will cherish forever. All of these girls are great examples of mentally strong student-athletes who face pressure on and off the court and are striving for success.