Tennis team has best season ever

Calum Shank
Video Editor

Women’s Varsity tennis team has the best record in school history. It has broken the previous school record by going 12-1 this season.

Seniors Julie Bardelmeier and Audrey Swaine won Districts for doubles and went to State on Oct. 14, in Springfield.

This is the first time in eight years a doubles partner has done this from Webster Groves High School.

The pair have played together for all four years of high school and won their last game against Ladue to move on to the official high school tournament.

“It was really good. Both me and Julie have only been playing since my freshman year of high school. We were playing girls who had been playing their whole lives. We were just happy to be there, even though we lost in the first round due to nerves and weather conditions. It was also cool because nobody on the tennis girls team has been to State in nine years,” Swaine said.

“I really liked Winning the quad tournament this year and playing with my best friend,” Swaine added.

Bardelmier said, “It was a new experience for both of us and it was just a fun time all around.”

“This has 100% been my favorite year so far, but I’m going to miss the seniors so much next year,” junior Annemarie Sweeny said via email. “Almost all of our Varsity team was seniors, so next year we are going to need to work extra hard and prepare more during the off season.”

Freshman Addison Simpson played Varsity this year, and her partner senior Calli Hepfinger placed third in Districts for doubles.

Simpson said via email, “Calli and I did have a great season! Calli was the best partner to have as a freshman. She was extremely encouraging, and I had a great time playing with her. I loved getting to know her as a person as well as a teammate.”

Tennis coach Terence Verstraete thought it was a great year.

Verstraete said via email, “12-1 record. School and team record. We won our own tournament (the Webster Quad). Calli Hepfinger went undefeated during the regular season. Audrey Swaine and Julie Bardelmeier won their individual District and qualified for State. First time in over eight years. Calli Hepfinger/Addison Simpson also took third in Districts.”

Verstraete mentioned how each year the team loses seniors. Verstraete added, “Addison Simpson (freshman), Milly Binkelman, (junior) Grace Closson, (sophomore) Elena King, (freshman) Ava Marsh, (freshman) Katie Dirks to name a few,” about leaders for the next few years.