Good Morning Coaches,
Since only a few have posted updates lately I would like to post another update for Week 6! The West Johnston Lady Wildcats have won 6 matches in a row heading into Week 7 and sit at (10-5) overall and (8-4) in the very tough Quad County Conference. We are currently tied with South Johnston for 3rd place in the conference behind the #1 3A team in the state Wilson Fike (16-1) and the #6 team in the east Wilson Hunt (13-1)! I am very proud of the improvement the team has made and after losing 3 of the top 6 from an (8-7) team last season we are right where I hoped we would be.
After opening our season with an extremely close match to 4A Corinth Holders, currently (12-3), we then lost our second in a row to #1 Wilson Fike! Then later in the season, after a heartbreaking loss to conference rival/county rival South Johnston 5-4 after being up 4-2 following singles, we fell to (3-4). I knew this would be the pivotal moment of the season for these young ladies. EIther the girls would feel defeated and throw in the towel or they would fight and become the team I told them they could be on day one! Well since that devastating loss to South Johnston our team has won 7 out of 8 matches, including 6 in a row, with the only loss being at #1 Fike. Not only have they won 7 out of 8 matches in a row but they have recorded 6 shutout wins in the process!
I could not be more proud of their perseverance and determination after starting the season 3-4! This is one of, if not the most mentally tough group of young ladies I have had the privilege to coach. I am sure many of you have similar stories and hopefully you will share them. Because as you all know there are 111 3A high school girls teams in this state and most do not have middle school feeder programs or country club tennis programs pumping out superstars each year. So it is our job as coaches to put our teams as high on that 111 teams ranking as possible with the talent levels that we are given!
Coach Jay James, West Johnston High School Tennis Coach
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