Tommy Keeler: Judges' program sets bar higher

tkeeler@nvdaily.com

For the last 15 years, the Handley girls tennis program has been one of the best in the area. The Judges won state titles in '95 and '97 and the program has been consistently strong since. As good as the program has been, the seniors and juniors of this year's team have taken the program to new heights.

I have been lucky enough to cover the program throughout the last 15 years, but the last four years the team has been extra special. There are many reasons for their success, but first and foremost is their dedication and desire to be the best.

Even after winning their third consecutive Group AA state title on Saturday, many of the juniors were talking about getting ready for next year.

"Especially after this year I think we're all going to work really hard for next year so that we can come back," Handley junior Katie Gordon said. "You never know what's going to happen, but I think we all want that."

Many of the kids play year-round at Winchester Country Club and Stonebrook Racquet and Fitness Club, and a lot of them having been playing the game since an early age. The reality of high school sports is a program can't win championships unless you have year-round players on the team.

It also helps when a program has players that play with a lot of heart -- and Handley's players do. One of the matches that I remember most over the last four years was the Judges' win over Spotswood in last year's Handley Invitational final.

The Judges were short-handed playing without Sarah Moomau, while Gordon was just coming back from an injury. Spotswood, one of Handley's biggest rivals, had a talented team that would eventually advance to the state semifinals. The Judges and their revamped lineup defeated the Trailblazers, 5-4.

Handley's No. 6 player at the time, Kaitlyn Bock, and then-sophomore Hannah Skedsvold played together for the first time and pulled out an 11-10 win to give the Judges the win. It was at that point that I started to realize just how special this team really was. They pulled out several close matches throughout the day and showed a lot of heart, something they hadn't had to do a lot of in dominating opponents when they won the first of three state titles.

They showed that same heart in the last loss they suffered three years ago in the state semifinals to Jamestown. Trailing 3-0, they battled back to tie the match at 3-3, only to fall short 5-3. The loss served as a motivator for the players and it fueled a fire that has still not been put out. That day also showed a glimpse into the future. The Eagles would go onto to win their sixth title in seven years, but it was clear a new dynasty was about to begin.

After winning the title on Saturday, many of the players gathered for a photo. It wasn't a photo of just team members, but of families. Many of the players on this year's team have older siblings who have played on previous Handley boys and girls teams.

It's the family ties that's helped make the Handley tradition even more special. The girls are aware of the tradition and they also want to do just as well as their siblings. Handley senior Mykenzie Garrett had a chance in the state tournament to end her career with a better record than her older brother, Justin. A win on Saturday would have given her an 80th win. She was up by a set, but her match didn't finish. Still, she put a positive spin on it.

"[Going into states] I knew my record was 78-1 and my parents told [my brother] that and he said 'Oh, that's rough mine was 79-1' and I was like 'I have two more matches left,'" Garrett said. "Now I'm 79 1/2-1 so, I beat him there."

For Handley coach Terry Ewell, all the players are just like family to her.

"You get close to them ... they become almost like your children," she said. "You can't help it. You can't travel and do these things with these kids and not get attached. You fall in love with them. Elizabeth [Gardiner] came off the court and we both started crying. It's been a good experience."

For as talented as the Judges are another thing that's always impressed me is how humble they have always stayed. They are not cocky and never overlook opponents even when it's obvious they are the better team.

"We're proud of ourselves, but were also very, very grateful," Handley senior Lane Stickley said. "I don't think anybody takes that for granted. We don't come out here thinking that we're better than everybody else because you have to keep yourself grounded when you get out there."

The other big factor in their success is their ability to have fun and their team unity. On Friday night in Radford, hours before their title match, the team held a dance party. At the state tournament, the players borrowed from one of the school's other athletic teams and joined together, clapped in unison and chanted "Yup, yup."

"It's from the basketball boys actually and we just took it from them," Garrett said. "It's from a rap song by Soulja Boy. It's just this little beat that we do to maybe intimidate the other teams and to get us pumped up."

I don't know if it intimidated opponents, but the success the team has had over the last four years is probably intimidating enough. They have won now won 67 straight matches and have piled up an 88-1 record during the last four years.

"We never expected anything like this would happen," Stickley said. "My eighth grade year when Elizabeth [Gardiner] and I were on the JV team, we never expected anything like this would happen and then it did. It's just amazing to be a part of it. I've never been a part of anything like this and I don't think many people get to say that they have, so it's like an honor."

The future appears to be bright too. The Judges lose on three seniors from this year's team, have plenty of depth and have more talent coming up the pipe. The current team has also set the bar high, even if the seniors don't realize it yet.

"It's so surreal to me right now. I can't believe we just did that," Garrett said. "I guess we're gonna be legendary someday."