WICHITA, Kan.—
Dave Hawley has now completed 30 successful seasons as the head coach of the Collegiate girls tennis team. This past season may have been one of the best. Going into the season, he had high expectations knowing the Spartans had a lot of talent; but there were also doubts and questions. The main question being would Collegiate remain in Class 3A as in past years or move up to 4A? Collegiate did end up making the switch to 4A and proved its were strong enough to take on that challenge at the Spartans finished with the 4A state title. The road was not easy though.
“We really didn’t hit our stride until the last three weeks. Almost every tournament we played in we never had one great complete performance - where everyone competed well,” Hawley said. “We would have tournaments where our singles would do great and our double kids would struggle or tournaments where our singles would struggle and our doubles would do great. Part of it was trying to figure out if I had the right people playing with each other.”
Brooke Withrow, a sophomore, proved to be a big asset to the team this year. Withrow’s record says a lot, as she completed the season 34-3. Two of her losses were because she got hurt in a tournament and didn’t even go on the court to play.
“It was great watching Brooke just be everything we thought she would be and more,” Hawley says.
One of the highlights of the season for Hawley was seniors Grace LeMaster and Jillian Johnson finishing second at state.
“They lost one match in three years together at state title play,” Hawley said.
Johnson and LeMaster were 17-1 the last three years; and Grace in her own career was 21-1 at the last four state tournaments.
“That’s an unreal record.” Hawley said. “Most people would just like to have one successful run at state and she had four good ones and she and Jillian had three together.”
“I am just really proud of our seniors. I mean I am always proud of our seniors but this bunch is going to be really hard to replace,” Hawley said.
However Hawley isn’t worried about continuing the success next year.
“I think we will be very good next year. I am very excited about it,” Hawley said.
The Spartans will have three returners from the state team this year: Withrow with her first-place medal and Dunn and Funke with their third place medals.
“We also have a very talented group of eighth graders moving up,” Hawley says. “I don’t want to look to far ahead though. I want to enjoy this. It has been great.”
