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By Cynthia Scott
Call it a season of love for the North Branch tennis team.
Not because of the number of shutouts the team has competed in, though with a 2-17 record there have been more than enough of those.
Call it that because in spite of their lopsided win-loss record, this is a team who views its months of sweat and tears with an abundantly positive outlook.
ìLosses are overrated,î said sophomore Dannielle Sonnenfeld.
ìScores donít show everything,î chimed in junior Kelsey OíHern.
ìItís definitely a rebuilding year. We knew it would be a tough year,î added senior Jessica Johnston.
A tough year in terms of wins and losses for sure, but not so tough when you listen to the team tally the benefits theyíve reaped.
At the top of the list: getting to know, appreciate and respect each other as young athletes working toward a common goal.
ìAt the beginning we were reserved and kept to ourselves, but by mid-season we knew each other and what made each other tick,î said senior Rachel Stefonick.
ìWe have become closer because we work really hard every day and it shows,î said junior Chantell Sampson.
It shows, they said, in thousands of small ways that no one except themselves can measure.
Sonnenfeld put it this way. ìWe knew that it would be hard to get wins because weíre so young. But physically weíve grown so we have good endurance and mentally weíve grown. Weíve learned to cope with our emotions and learn from our mistakes.î
Thatís not to say losing has been easy, or that players havenít gotten discouraged. Freshman Sara Fletcher admitted she came in expecting the team to shine.
ìItís really hard when you lose. You think youíre going to do it and thatís when the team has to come together,î Fletcher said.
Theyíve done that by cheering for each other in each and every competition. And by singing to ward off discouragement.
ìYou sing to yourself and then talk yourself up,î Sonnenfeld said. ìLike if you swing too high you sing ìSwing low, sweet chariot.î
Coach Kristin Unverzagt sees the growth in her team, and she feeds off of it.
ìIím very proud of how focused they are for each and every match even though they may be discouraged. The girls keep me positive and when they work so hard they motivate me,î Unverzagt said.
Unverzagt is confident that good things lie ahead next season, when all but Stefonick and Johnston will return.
ìThey work so hard. Theyíll get the wins,î Unverzagt said.
The teamís season came to an end in the sectional playoffs on Oct. 11 with a loss to Forest Lake. Individuals will continue on in the single elimination sectional tournament in Coon Rapids on Oct. 18 at 8 a.m.
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