Amanda Roberts instantly knew her tennis season was lost when she felt her left knee buckle from underneath her during the first tournament of the season a year ago.
“It was just one of those gut feelings you get,” Roberts said. “I started crying because I knew I wasn’t going to be able to play tennis.”
Roberts suffered an ACL tear in just her third match of the year, prematurely ending her junior season and leaving her to watch as five of her teammates went on to make it to the State meet without her.
The injury was devastating for Roberts. She had worked hard in the offseason, gone to several training camps and worked with a private trainer, all with the desire of making it to State.
“I was really hoping to be on top and be the best out there,” she said, “but that went out the window when I hurt my knee.”
As coach Melinda Flohr saw it, the injury cut off what she had expected to be a big year for Roberts.
“She probably would have had quite a bit of success last year if she would’ve been able to continue and complete her junior season,” Flohr said.
Not playing frustrated Roberts. Not only was she missing out on a chance to help her team, but her favorite mode of stress relief had been taken away from her.
So what did she do?
She threw herself into making a comeback.
“I couldn’t release my stress playing tennis, so I just had to work out really hard and work on rehabilitating,” she said. “I’m really proud of my progress.”
Roberts, now a senior, is back to try it all once more. She has been through the surgery and the rehabilitation, and now is back on the court hoping to finish what she started a year ago.
The only difference is she wears a bulky brace on her knee. But despite a little discomfort, Roberts said her goals have remained the same: qualifying for State.
“There’s a lot of pressure, because it’s my goal to make it to State, but I’m just not quite sure how I’m going to be out there,” she said. “I’ll just have to wait and see after I play a couple matches.”
Roberts will be expected to fill one of several holes the EHS girls tennis team faces this season.
Four of the five who made it to State last year — Rachael Bachman, Emily Chiroy, McKenzie Cinelli and Hallie Kretsinger — have graduated. Only fellow senior Sarah Watkins, who went to State as Chiroy’s doubles partner, returns with State experience. However, juniors Kaitlin Pederson and Whitney Page also saw significant varsity action last season and will be expected to step into full-time roles this season.
Flohr said Roberts likely will assume the No. 1 singles spot vacated by Kretsinger. As for Watkins, she will remain a doubles player, but will move up from the No. 2 slot to the No. 1 team.
It is unclear who her partner will be, which makes Watkins a little uneasy heading into her final year at EHS.
“I’m kind of nervous because I lost my partner, but I’m excited because it’s my senior year,” Watkins said. “I just hope to have a lot of fun and try to grow with whoever I play with and do the best that we can.”
Beyond Roberts and Watkins, things get a little murky. Flohr also mentioned sophomore Jordan Sosa and senior Lauren Kitchens as two who will battle for varsity action this season.
“With losing the caliber of players that we did last year, we’re looking at this year for some girls to really step up and prove themselves,” Flohr said. “We’re going to be kind of untested and uncertain early on this season. But the girls have been working hard.”
There certainly isn’t any shortage of players to pick from, however, as Flohr said about 40 girls have been practicing with the team.
“We have some that are pretty much beginners and some that have played varsity level before,” Flohr said. “I think it’s always nice when you have a larger group, because then you always have people that are pushing others and working hard to try to gain some spots.”
Emporia High begins the 2007 season Sept. 1 at the Wichita Collegiate Invitational. The first home tournament is at 9 a.m. on Sept. 8 at the EHS tennis courts.